The mind games of the Scudetto battle have already begun as Inter CEO Beppe Marotta believes it is better for his club to be chasing rather than leading.
Interviewed by La Gazzetta dello Sport, Marotta spoke about a number of different topics including the Scudetto fight, Inter’s reported pursuit of Mehdi Taremi and the use of algorithms, with his comments relayed by Radio Rossonera.
Is there a Scudetto favourite?
“I won my first Scudetto in Turin with Antonio Conte without European commitments. Experience tells me that being able to plan the season only with the Scudetto and the Coppa Italia is an advantage. This is why I say that Juventus is the favourite for the Scudetto.”
Yet, you managers and the players themselves have placed a lot of emphasis on the second star. Why?
“I say no to excess prudence and humility. If you are at Inter, you have to be ambitious, the bar must be high. We have to believe it. It’s different to say ‘we are the best’ – that would be arrogance.”
Will you be active in the January window? There is talk of Taremi as a target…
“I do not believe so. But we are Inter and we are always attentive to every situation. And I want to say one thing: before the players were reluctant to accept Inter, now many want to come, last summer we had to say a lot of no. Thuram, Sommer and Pavard chose us, it means that Inter is considered credible.”
What do you think of conducting a mercato with algorithms, like Milan?
“Innovation forces you to open your mind, the idea of artificial intelligence is making its way everywhere. But at the basis of everything there will always be the human factor. Science cannot replace man.”
It promises to be an exciting fight for the title with Milan top of the league at present two points ahead of Inter, who however won the first derby of the season 5-1. Juventus are two points behind them in third, while Napoli are among the chasing pack too.
The Rossoneri will learn a lot about themselves in the next two games against Juventus and Napoli in Serie A (at home and away respectively), which come either side of a trip to face PSG in the Champions League.
