Inter-Liverpool, Bergomi: “Thuram is the key man”

He fell in love with that team while watching Eurogol in the Seventies, he risked facing them in the European Cup final in 1981, he celebrated as if he were one of them after a 4-3 defeat at Borussia Dortmund in 2016. Flag of Inter, Beppe Bergomi does not hide an unbridled passion for Liverpool and the challenge at San Siro is almost a family matter for him.

Bergomi, how did your passion for Liverpool begin?

“In the 70s when I was a kid and I watched Eurogol on Rai. Images of that very strong Liverpool passed by and it remained with me so much. I knew by heart the team with Clemence, the Kennedys, Dalglish… I remembered it all. The passion comes from there and I have carried it with me forever. And then I always say that once in a lifetime you have to go to Anfield. I’m lucky enough to go there as a commentator. Once I found myself standing and rejoicing when, underneath 3-1, Klopp’s Liverpool won 4-3 against Borussia Dortmund. Someone behind me hugged me and asked me why I was celebrating even though I was Italian. I told him: ‘Forget it, I’ll explain it to you later’…”

Among other things, he “risked” facing them in the Champions Cup final…

“Exactly, the one in Paris in 1981 when the Reds beat Real Madrid with a goal from Alan Kennedy. We lost in the semi-final to Madrid and the dream faded… At Anfield, however, I only played once, a summer friendly. The atmosphere wasn’t exactly at the top…”.

On gala evenings Anfield is unique…

“Fantastic. Even if it’s true that the climate has changed there too compared to the past, in England in general but also at Anfield. I was at Manchester City-Napoli and at a certain point I said to myself: “But where are the people?”. At the end of the first half they came in after 10 minutes, after it had started… The English now experience it differently. Of course, City are not Liverpool. But even in Liverpool it’s now like going to the theater a bit, You’ll Never Walk Alone is always nice, but compared to the past, a lot has changed. They had to change by force of circumstances, now in England it’s like when you go to see the Olimpia basketball team: it feels like you’re at the theatre, there isn’t much cheering…”.

Is this Liverpool in crisis less scary?

“No, no… If we look at the results it seems easier, but Liverpool have all it takes to put Inter in difficulty: fast players up front, one-on-one, who can stretch your defense… Inter is a team that always has to play, raising the defensive line but they have to be careful because Liverpool remain dangerous. Of course, at the moment they have problems in defense. They are very short, the same ones always play, many times their attention drops and they concede incredible goals. But let’s not say it’s easier, let’s not joke not even…”.

What happened to Liverpool? Why this crisis?

“Osvaldo Bagnoli said that the attackers are the ones who make the team play well if they do both phases well. They invested a lot in that department, but Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez helped you a lot unlike the new arrivals. And then some need time to settle in, like Wirtz, because the physicality of English football is particular and it takes a while to adapt. In general, the only one who has maintained if not increased the level is Szoboszlai, an extraordinary player. The others are all below average. This whole scenario means that the defensive line suffers, which also lacks alternatives in the center (Leoni was injured, Gomez is used on the right).”

Isn’t the decline of a champion like Van Dijk among the factors?

“Van Dijk is a reading player who needs a certain type of coverage also because the years pass for everyone. However, he remains a very strong player.”

Liverpool are missing a player like Diogo Jota: in addition to the tactical void, could human trauma still be a factor for the group?

“I don’t know, it depends on how they experienced him in the locker room, how important he was in the group. Tactically he was perfect. Initially the team certainly paid for the trauma of his disappearance. But now some time has passed and I don’t think this is still a factor.”

If you were Chivu, how would you face Liverpool?

“With great attention, if you give them space they hurt. They are fast, in Europe they play different football than in Italy. Inter need a win to get into the top eight, they have to win one of the two at home and Arsenal are the favorite team at the moment, they are the strongest, then maybe in March everything changes but now they are the strongest. So you have to beat Liverpool. How do you face them? Playing your game, without upheavals, without allowing quick counterattacks, and hitting through the dribble and the things that Inter have been doing very well for 5 years. No upheavals, Inter aren’t capable, you can’t tell Bastoni and Dimarco to stay behind, they have to play their game.”

Who could be the key player, the man capable of hurting Liverpool?

“Thuram: with his movements, with his way of attacking depth, if they stay with the line high enough and don’t escape at the right times he can hurt.”