Marcus Thuram says Inter need a change of mentality after Saturday’s derby defeat, and has backed the calls from Nicolò Barella and Alessandro Bastoni.
With quotes courtesy of the Corriere dello Sport, the France international spoke alongside Cristian Chivu before Tuesday’s Champions League game at Feyenoord. It kicks off at 21:00 CET [20:00 GMT] in Rotterdam.
After Saturday’s 3-1 loss to Milan, Inter’s first league defeat of the season and their eighth derby in a row without a win, Barella and Bastoni both said the squad’s mentality had to change.
“I fully agree with what they said,” Thuram explained. “They’re two leaders, and their words were important.”
Thuram happy to lead Inter line alone
Thuram wants Inter to rediscover the spirit they showed in the second half of their Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk, when they won the game late despite being down to 10 men.
“The attitude we had in that game, especially when we were down to 10, must be the same one we show again in both the Champions League and the league,” he said.
The 29-year-old has been Inter’s key man with Lautaro Martínez out injured. He has started every game since the October international break and scored in three straight league matches before the derby. He played alone up front on Saturday after Pio Esposito and Ange-Yoan Bonny were struck down by fever.
“I’m very happy with the minutes I’m getting,” Thuram said. “My role? I can also play as a lone striker. I don’t have a problem with that.”
Inter have three points from their first three games in the competition, and Chivu believes around 16 will be needed for a top-eight finish.
