Klinsmann urges Inter to overcome fear as title race reaches crucial juncture
Former Inter Milan striker Jürgen Klinsmann has called for the Serie A leaders to play without fear and secure the Scudetto, starting with this weekend's pivotal match against Roma. Speaking from Los Angeles in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, the ex-Germany manager also defended Italy's Inter contingent following the national team's World Cup qualifying failure and urged defender Alessandro Bastoni to stay and fight in Italy.
Klinsmann, who played for Inter between 1989 and 1992, identified a psychological hurdle for Simone Inzaghi's side, which has seen its lead at the top of the table slightly reduced in recent weeks. He described Sunday's clash with Roma at San Siro as "the game of the year," stating that a victory could liberate the team mentally and restore confidence. He warned that facing a tough Roma side fighting for Champions League qualification, under a capable manager, makes for a fascinating Easter fixture.
The German legend addressed the difficult period for defender Bastoni, whose error led to a red card in Italy's decisive penalty shootout loss to Bosnia. Klinsmann firmly rejected the notion that the 24-year-old should leave Italy to revive his career. "The opposite, I hope he saves himself in Italy, and therefore at Inter," Klinsmann said. He argued that overcoming such a challenging period without fleeing would make Bastoni a stronger player, turning a point of difficulty into a potential turning point, provided the Italian environment offers balanced criticism rather than destructive attacks.
Klinsmann broadened his analysis to the systemic issues within Italian football, refusing to lay blame solely on the Inter players who formed a core of the recent national team. He stated that the players are a product of a system that has had shortcomings for years, tracing problems back to the period after the 2006 World Cup win. The former striker highlighted inadequate infrastructure and a pervasive philosophy of playing not to lose, rather than to win, as key issues affecting coaches and players across all levels.
Regarding Inter's recent stutter in the league, Klinsmann pointed to a common phenomenon for teams leading a title race. "When you are close to the finish line, fear can set in," he explained. He suggested the team is seeing the objective and starting to think about what it could lose, generating tension, especially with the memory of last season's disappointment in some players. His advice was simplicity: play easy, stay calm, and not complicate things.
He also discussed the role of Inter assistant coach Cristian Chivu in the current moment, describing it as a time when a manager changes profession and becomes a psychologist. Klinsmann emphasized managing emotions and creating a positive environment, noting that the return of captain Lautaro Martinez is decisive but not sufficient alone if everyone does not contribute to creating positive energy. On young striker Pio Esposito, who missed the first penalty against Bosnia, Klinsmann said he would not have chosen him to take it, but expressed confidence that Esposito, like Bastoni and Italy itself, would recover, citing the country's great potential across sports.
Finally, Klinsmann recalled his own memories of Inter-Roma clashes, naming it one of his favourite fixtures and specifically mentioning the 1991 UEFA Cup final, where he provided the assist for Nicola Berti's goal. He fondly remembered those matches as a "German festival," with himself, Lothar Matthäus, and Andreas Brehme for Inter facing off against Roma's Thomas Berthold and Rudi Völler.
