Former Premier League forward Paolo Di Canio believes Bournemouth have five or six players capable of starting for Inter Milan after their impressive Europa League victory over AC Milan.
Marco Rose's side defeated the Italian giants 3-0 at the Vitality Stadium on 22 October and have since extended their winning streak to seven matches across all competitions.
The Cherries also sit top of the Europa League league phase with four victories from four matches.
Di Canio makes bold Bournemouth claim
Speaking to La Repubblica, Di Canio admitted he expected Milan to struggle against Bournemouth.
"I was certain that Milan would struggle against Bournemouth; they have 5 or 6 players there who would be starters for Inter," he said.
The former West Ham and Sunderland forward argued that Italian clubs should not underestimate European opponents because of their historical reputations.
Di Canio, who played for Milan between 1994 and 1996, also questioned the leadership within Ruben Amorim's squad.
He suggested that winning the derby against Inter does not automatically make Milan serious Serie A title contenders.
Bournemouth's European campaign continues to impress
Bournemouth's victory over Milan came through penalties from Justin Kluivert and Marcus Tavernier before Amine Adli added a late free-kick.
Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan was sent off during the first half.
The result marked another significant achievement in Bournemouth's first European campaign.
Rose's team followed that success with a 3-1 comeback victory at Sparta Prague on Thursday.
Tyler Adams, Evanilson and Rayan scored after the Czech side had taken the lead.
Bournemouth have now collected 12 points from their opening four Europa League fixtures.
Marco Rose building momentum
The Cherries have responded emphatically to their 5-1 defeat against Chelsea in October, winning seven consecutive matches.
Their defensive improvement has been equally notable, with six successive clean sheets before conceding against Sparta Prague.
That consistency has strengthened Bournemouth's European prospects while demonstrating the quality Di Canio highlighted.
Key Points
- Di Canio believes five or six Bournemouth players could start for Inter.
- Bournemouth defeated AC Milan 3-0 in October.
- Rose's side have won seven consecutive matches.
- The Cherries have 12 points from four Europa League fixtures.
What's Next?
Bournemouth will aim to extend their winning run after the international break while maintaining their strong position in the Europa League.
0 Comments
First read message
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *