Chiellini: ‘Inter have been strongest for years, Juventus back Koopmeiners’
Juventus director Giorgio Chiellini admits Inter ‘have been the strongest squad in the league for many years now’ and stands up for troubled Teun Koopmeiners.
It kicks off at San Siro at 19.45 GMT (20.45 CET).
The Bianconeri won the Derby d’Italia back in September, emerging with a stoppage-time 4-3 victory in Turin, while last season this fixture ended 4-4 at San Siro.
Chiellini ready for Inter vs. Juventus
Can they keep the title race open maybe not for themselves, but for the other teams?
“We do hope to keep the Scudetto battle open, but Inter have been the strongest squad in the league for many years now, the club deserved credit for building such a great team,” Chiellini told Sky Sport Italia.
“It’s going to be a difficult but fun match to take part in, I hope to see apart from the result, also a confirmation of the performances we’ve seen in recent months.
“We need to make fewer mistakes, as we are paying a heavy price for those lately, but a good performance here against the best team in Serie A would be a confirmation of that form.”
Both Thuram brothers were on target when these sides met earlier in the season, but this time Khephren is out injured, joining Dusan Vlahovic and Arek Milik on the absentee list.
“Conceicao hasn’t always been available due to injury. Naturally, we have to focus on our quality and pace, because if we try to take Inter on physically, their defenders have considerably more than us on that level,” noted Chiellini.
With Khephren Thuram injured, it was assumed that Koopmeiners would step into the midfield, but he is dropped in favour of Fabio Miretti and Weston McKennie for a change of system to 4-3-3.
“Koop had a very good game against Lazio on Sunday and was unlucky with the offside goal. He is training well, he still needs to show what he did when playing for Atalanta, but he’s not complaining or anything, he’s relaxed and prepared for the game,” insisted Chiellini.