INTER vs MONZA POST-MATCH REACTION 🔥 | SERIE A ROUND 1 | JUVE, MILAN & ROMA LATEST NEWS
The 2026-27 Serie A has officially started with Inter hosting Monza and Como visiting Udinese. Our editor, Lorenzo Bettoni, is at San Siro to examine the first game of the season involving the Nerazzurri, get you the reactions from the dressing rooms, as well as the latest updates for upcoming Napoli, Juventus, Milan and Roma games. Joining Lorenzo today, as usual, is Richard Hall.
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Hello, welcome everybody live from San Siro. I'm Lorenzo Bettoni joined by Richard Hall. Inter four, Monza one. It's on paper it seems like an easy result but it wasn't really that way, isn't it Richard? Thank you for joining me. >> Yeah, no problems. Yeah, it's a shame I wasn't there at San Siro today actually but especially in the first probably 10 minutes and then the second half. Um it was really really like you say. It was a funny game really because that intensity that came out of straight from the start, you know, with Hakan Calhanoglu's ridiculous goal. Um it just felt like business And you know no problems whatsoever. Here we go. Here we go again. And yes and yes. Um it looked like Inter were going to make hard work of it. Uh credit to Monza. Don't want to leave them out of this at all. I thought that they really bustled hard in that first half and really came back into it and gave Inter all sorts of problems. Um and yeah, look second half it was Inter had to think and they had to concentrate. Second half [laughter] was exemplary personally. Uh it was a really really good second half. Again, you know, we'll go through the goals in detail but some fantastic goals, a good good individual displays, good team display. And uh and also the just the changes that came on uh showed the strength in depth. So a good night for Inter but like you said that first half it wasn't easy. >> I thought about you at some point um especially when Lautaro Martínez had the ball. Uh it wasn't always uh like super calm with uh when it came to passing the ball around. Uh he suffered a little bit with the pressing of uh Monza, I would say. In the end in you can see the you can see the one goal uh which wasn't uh properly his fault. Uh the defense was a little bit sloppy, I think. Bastoni still is not at the top of his form and Akanji as well didn't didn't play a great game. Probably the best of the out of the three defenders was was Bisseck regardless of of his goal. And then Stones made his debut in the second half replacing Bisseck. Where do you see Stones play? Like do you see cuz on paper given the you know the career of the career of Akanji, the career of Bastoni I would say Stones fits in as a replacement for Bisseck. But over the last year I would say Bisseck has been one of the most reliable inter defenders and I spoke to a few fans. We're going to publish a video about the behind the scenes of these of these game here in the next few days, probably on Monday. Lot of English fans, lot of Stones shirts, lot of Spence shirts and Spence and Jones were actually in the among the available players. Stones made his debut in the in the second half as I said. Where do you see him play in the inter defense? >> Well, I think with John Stones one thing you get with him and he did this at Manchester City a lot is he can play into that midfield. He can play almost as a defensive midfielder. And you can see even in the preseason, you saw it once today as well. He likes to overlap with the center defenders and can play. I think that him driving forward may seem play in that in that three on the outside of either one. You know, I think that that looks like it could be the way. I think with his ability to technically he's very good and he can get forward and he does have a goal in him. So, I think in in some respects that man in the middle I don't see it as much. I see it as on either side of the main center back. Because he does have that. And look team, you know, the squad's got a lot of depth, but he can move into midfield if necessary, and he's done that in the past. So, you know, he's quite a No, it sounds strange to say it about a player of his experience, but he's almost could be a bit of a utility player playing all the way along the back three. He can do it. Can you put him into a midfield position in defensive midfield? He can do it. So, for Kivi, it's a it's a great option to have, especially when, as you say, Bisek is, you know, who's doing that, and uh you know, such a good job. So, he does give a massive option. We've just going to say ciao and say hello to to Matthew again. Thank you for joining us, as he always does. Um Matthew's asking Lorenzo, saying Inter are getting caught on the counter, and they need to close down these gaps in midfield moving forward. What do you think of that? Do you think that's I think Matthew's got that one. Getting caught on the counter, I think, like you alluded to, that's credit to Monza, isn't it? >> Yeah, especially in the first half. I mean, Monza didn't like they didn't play just didn't think about defensive defending only. They played with a mid block, I would say. They weren't in a overly defensive I think they played pretty good game, especially in the first half. They were let down by their goalkeeper. I think Inter were a bit sloppy in defense and in central midfield, and they became really, really dangerous when they were able to play wider, to get more often to Di Marco on the right flank, to Di Marco on the left. Di Marco I think he finished the game with two assists. So, I I saw from what I saw from Inter at some point, even when the result was 1-1, is that they they thought the game was easier than than it than it actually was. I saw a few too many attempts to make backheel assists, to make backheel touches, to make like, you know, not being too um like not too concrete, like being too much They know they're strong. They know that they They knew they were better than Monza. And so, probably they were a bit light, I would say, in in the in the opening 45 minutes. Then, uh obviously, Michele Di Gregorio, Monza's goalkeeper, made a couple of mistakes that actually changed the game in some way. But, I would say that the Inter winning would be deserved. And, uh uh one thing I prepared for this show is, uh something on the man of the match. Who was the man of the match to you? I got a clear idea. I'm not sure who Serie A picked. I think I saw Djimsiti coming out of the pitch with the award. >> Yeah, it was Djimsiti. And, I have to admit, I was I was saying to my little boy uh I was asking him the same question beforehand. And, and and I've got to say, he picks up on that as well. I think Djimsiti, what he offers Inter at the moment is we talked about it preseason on the show about Inter going for various players on the right-hand side and struggling to get them. Djimsiti today was incredible pace, incredible consistency, um and yeah, he added a had a real a real threat. Um so, for me personally, I think it was the right choice. I don't always think Serie A get that one right, but they certainly did, I think, today. Um offering that because I think without him, I think there's certain times when we said um earlier on you know, in the show about Inter Inter were a bit um they took it for granted a little bit after the goal went in in the first 5 minutes. It looks like it's all over almost. It looks like business as usual. And, you think it was Djimsiti that really lifted them at that point and tried to keep them you know, kept pushing on. So, for me, it was a a really good choice. What about yourself, Lorenzo? Would you go with Giroud as well or >> No, probably not my man of the match. It was PS4 so far. >> Yeah. >> What I said, the I checked a few websites as well before coming live. They You know, SofaScore, they do the ratings based on stats. The best player for SofaScore was Hakan Çalhanoğlu. So, for Çalhanoğlu, I checked the stats. He had uh like, you know, what they do overall passing accuracy, passing accuracy in in in their own half, in the opponent's half, and long balls. I think long balls was 100%, five out of five, and all the other were all over 90%. So, this plays a big role in the statistical ratings. For what I saw, um we spoke I spoke before about the back heel assist, the way that Inter played and took a little bit for granted, especially after scoring the first goal. This is something that I didn't see from Pioli. Like, Pioli was fantastic with an incredible attitude, with an incredible physicality in the game. If you go and check his uh heat map, he has more touches than in midfield than in central midfield than in the box, which is incredible for a center forward. And again, well, I've been talking so long about Pioli being the better center forward, about the fact that if we had qualified for the World Cup, he would have been the center the starting striker for Italy. And his performance just confirms even more what I've been saying about him because it is that his performance was absolutely great to me. And and I think he deserved the man of the match. Then, Giroud is a great pick. Çalhanoğlu is a great pick. We're talking about a 4-1 win, so there's no really a wrong choice in here. But, the way he played and the attitude he showed, I think Pioli was the man of the match. >> I definitely think Yeah, listen, that could have easily his way. I mean, one of the comments we had before from from Matthew was about you excellent hold up play. And it's true. And we can see one here from um from me Esposito led the line brilliantly, great link up play, deserved his goal. And he's right. And I think we all agree on that because I think that when you look at what he did, like you say, giving that option and having that physicality for me allows Inter to play a little bit differently. Um you know, it allows them to utilize the the wing. The commentator here in the UK, funnily enough, was saying how dangerous it is and how what a luxury it is to be able to have physical players like Inter in the box to be able to to to have that threat. I mean, we did see Lautaro dropping deep quite a lot. I don't think obviously he had his best game. Whether that's a new initiative of Kivu to try and try and do that. But like you say, Esposito was everywhere. And um yeah, he he he certainly could have done it. And the goal, I mean, just just to touch on that goal. I mean, that was absolutely sublime as well, wasn't it? >> Yeah, it is. I'm looking around uh cuz there are a few fans leaving San Siro. Obviously, the game finished uh about 40 minutes ago. Um then if if if I manage before we finish the live stream, I want to take you cuz there is a little change here outside San Siro. Um the big um square that that was in front uh um of the stadium nearby the um San Siro tube station is now partially closed because they're starting, you know, to close the area in preparation for the building of the new stadium. So, if it's something that I can show you, I'll take you there later on. If not, I've taken it I've I've made a video earlier today and we're going to show that we're going to show that in the next few days. >> It'll be really interesting because I was there with Inter on the last day of the season, and obviously it just was absolutely as normal. So, for for you to be here on the first day and to be able to show that would be really good because obviously, you know, we often hear things about, you know, Italy in Italy that they're going to start this project, it's going to begin, but very rarely do we see them break ground. So, the fact that they're doing that now is is a big thing. So, that's uh >> Yeah, finally we see finally we see something moving. I spoke to a few English fans before the game, and they said it was the first time they were coming in and they wanted to come because they want to see San Siro before it's actually it's actually taken down. They all had three three guys from London, they all had the Spence shirts, but he wasn't available today. Maybe next time. Maybe next time. >> English revolution >> And Yeah, again, Carty Jones as well wasn't available. He watched the game from the stands. He was on camera a few times during the match, but yeah, one thing that I saw today is a lot of excitement for these English players. Even when Stones made his debut, everyone was waiting. There was a big roar when he was introduced. There is a great sort of anticipation for these English players joining Inter. We can say is the most English team that we have in Serie A now. Another than the Monza starlet as well. Along from Southampton made his made his debut as well in the second half. So, I mean, not a Premier League game, but I lost my English players. >> Let me ask you a question for you then, Lorenzo, because I obviously I'm based in the UK and I do a lot of work for obviously Inter. When I talk to people about working for Inter, a lot of the fans in the UK, it's I'm what? You know, it seems to be no big deal. But, that my my wife actually asked me during the game. She said, "I find it really strange because people, you know, you say you work for Inter, yeah, that's great." Everyone's consumed by the Premier League in the UK. But, in in Italy with this uh you know these players that have gone over, you know, obviously John Stones at the end of his career, Curtis Jones very and Spence very much in the middle of it. Why is there such uh enthusiasm for it with English players? >> I you know, I mean the way that like obviously you need to go and get the players from the best leagues and there's no we can't deny that the Premier League is currently the best league in the world and it's been the best league in the world for a few years. They are where Serie A used to be a few years ago. So, whenever you sign a player from that league, yeah, it's it's an exciting move and uh I remember one interview from Lele Oriali, Inter legend, but also Antonio Conte's assistant at Napoli over the last two seasons. Um start of last season he was asked about all the signings from the Premier League because Napoli had two years ago McTominay then last year Rasmus Højlund and so there were questions on what why Napoli are getting all these players and the obviously the reply was we're talking about the best league in the world. So, there are many they make signings for big money uh but at the end of the day not all the transfers work out and so there is room for Serie A clubs to come and and pick them up. We've seen they're not English, but they come from the Premier League as well, Colwill and Vicario for Juventus who are going to start tomorrow for Juventus by the way as confirmed by Spalletti. There are other big signings made for the biggest of the biggest moves made by Serie A clubs over the last few years come from the Premier League. And when it comes to English players, I was thinking about it the other day, there is something that worries me a little about English players in Serie A. It's true that they're usually better than the average Syria player that we have. But if you think about big English performance in Syria over the last few years uh Fikayo Tomori, maybe Loftus-Cheek in his first or second season at Milan. Even when they were at the top of their game in Syria, they were never quite close to getting an England call-up. So, this is what scares me a little and what probably explains uh um why they come to Serie A as well. Uh because maybe they need to they they they reach a point of their career where they need to um you know, play at a lower level, which is not necessarily about the team they join, but it's more about the environment, it's more about the opposition, it's more about the whole system um in terms of Serie A. >> I mean, if yeah, I mean, Ashley Young was also very good in Serie A. But you look at um I think a lot of the time that without like dressing obviously Gareth Southgate when he was the coach, wouldn't probably look as much um you know, at players who were playing abroad. But I think Thomas Tuchel obviously now has probably more of a chance. Um just was going to ask you as well. You touched on it before and I'm not against um Yossi Martínez at all. Um but there were some moments um that reminded me of a little bit of a René Higuita at times. It was a little bit of a a bit of a like you said, his footwork was a little lacking. I mean, he had some moments in the last season, but his footwork at the end of the day was always exemplary around that when he was playing those small passing spaces. Um what did you think of Yossi's performance um from what you saw? Cuz obviously we can see him on the screen, but his movement and everything else from what you saw in San Siro, would you be impressed? >> Which player again, sorry? >> Yossi Martínez, the goalkeeper. >> Yeah, um told you. I mean, um >> with the ball at his feet it's not that he didn't pass the ball well, but the press from from Monza play and looked a bit scary at times and so I thought about you the other day because when we did the the Syria preview you remember we spoke about the possible weak points for Inter and you mentioned the goalkeeper but not because of specific mistakes that he did last season as well because he had I think a solid campaign. I think it was a quite solid season for Martinez but at the same time you know there is I think Inter are quite covered anyway cuz they got Provedel who's an experienced goalkeeper. I would still think that they're not 50/50. I mean it's not like Meret and Pierluigi Gollini at Napoli last season. There is a clear starter here we have who I think is is Martinez and then we got Provedel as well, but I think this thing of being sloppy with the ball is not just something that Martinez had. It was the whole team especially in the first half they were a little bit slow. They weren't too reactive especially again in central midfield and especially in defense. I think Bastoni especially in the second half we were writing in the Football Italia writers group chat the the whole defense looked a little bit really too slow and maybe perhaps sometimes they took things a little bit for granted. Um it's again it's not much about the goalkeeper itself. It's more about the attitude overall that we that we saw from Inter in the first half and then the second one was was much different and there was at some point I was watching towards the the bench with with Cristian Chivu. He was always you know he rarely sits >> down on the bench. he's always uh you know, sitting at sitting uh standing up trying to be very proactive, tries to talk to his players as much as he can and try to encourage them as much as he can. But then uh when there was a mispass and it was the second or third consecutive one, at some point he was like, "You guys, I don't know what to do anymore." and he and he went towards the bench preparing for the um for the half-time speech because it it really looked frustrated because the attitude wasn't really the the right one for him in there. But then again, second half justified the 4-1 win that is more than deserved. >> Yeah, just flicking back uh to when we were talking about players coming to Italy. Uh Lee Telson's come with another good comment here. He's saying, "There's still a glamour about Italy to me as a country. It's gorgeous." Well, that's a fact. The iconic stadiums are grand names. I'm surprised more players don't get go there rather than slug it out at a mid-table Premier League. Now, listen, I'd much rather be in Parma or Florence Florence than uh in Hull. Um but um [laughter] it just been that's the case, but uh I mean, City have does even though we can say the Premier League has it, you know, is the best league in the world at the moment, it still has that glamour, doesn't it? We talked about it the other day. We can say the stadiums maybe a bit outdated, but you can understand why players come in and you can understand Lee's point. >> Yeah, 100%. Uh I think uh I I lived in London for for 3 years uh and and in London I met my wife who was actually from Florence and so I moved back to Florence. That was a bit strange. We could have met in Florence, it would have been easier, but anyway, there's not I love London and I would return to live in London if I had the chance, but dude, like the lifestyle we have we have here in Italy, I saw a comment from Curtis Jo