Yahoo Sports Inter Milan & Netherlands Star Admits ‘There’s Room To Improve’ Defensively Ahead Of Champions League Clash Vs Red Star Belgrade
Inter Milan defender Stefan de Vrij doesn’t hide the fact that there’s “room to improve” defensively for the Nerazzurri.
The Dutchman gave his thoughts in a press conference ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League match against Red Star Belgrade, as reported by FCInterNews.
Inter have conceded in four out of the six matches they’ve played in Serie A so far this season.
That is a far cry from the kind of defensive solidity that the Nerazzurri had for all of last campaign. The Nerazzurri conceded the fewest goals in Serie A and kept the most clean sheets.
More encouragingly, Inter managed to keep a clean sheet against Manchester City in their first match in the Champions League this season.
That was a sign that Inter still have a strong defense. As were matches against Lecce and Atalanta in which their goal never really came under threat.
However, what is clear is that Inter need to be better at showing this defensive solidity week in and week out.
Doing that will come down to cutting out defensive errors and carelessness above all.
Stefan De Vrij: “Room To Improve” For Inter Milan Defensively
Of Inter’s less-than-convincing defensive record to date this season, defender de Vrij said that “We’re all aware that we have room to improve.”
“But not just the defenders,” the 32-year-old continued. “Everyone.”
“Last season when we conceded few goals, it was to everyone’s credit,” he noted.
“We know we have to improve. We’re looking at what we do, and trying to do better.”
“We suffered a bad loss last week,” de Vrij said of the derby against AC Milan.
“And we knew that we needed to pick ourselves back up on a tough away ground against an in-form opponent,” he said of facing Udinese.
“We did some positive things. And some things we have to improve on. But we were a team.”
De Vrij noted that “Each match is different.”
“Against Monza was different than against City. In Monza we were facing a team who were playing with everyone behind the ball, and we played it too slowly.”
“We didn’t manage to score and they did so with one good chance,” de Vrij looked back.
“But then we managed to bring home a point in the end.”
“City, on the other hand, are a team that force you back,” de Vrij said. “We managed to defend, and put in a great performance.”
