Baroni talks up Verona ahead of mission impossible at Inter
Hellas Verona boss Marco Baroni insists his side's showdown against Serie A leader Inter Milan is not already a foregone conclusion as he looks to keep it clear of the relegation zone.
The Gialloblu have lost three straight games against Inter, all without scoring a goal, and were thrashed 6-0 at home the last time the sides met in May.
Baroni, though, is looking for a positive response after his side was beaten 1-0 at home by Salernitana in its last game of 2023.
“We are going to play a match on Saturday which may be impossible on paper, but these are the matches that give us the measure of what we are,” Baroni said.
“It’s an opportunity. We know who we are playing against, but we go looking for a performance, this is what we need. I always turn difficulties into opportunities.
“We must not be distracted by something we cannot control – work can help us obtain the our objectives, the rest is of no use to us.”
Inter saw its gap over rival Juventus closed down to two points after being held to a 1-1 draw at Genoa in its final match of 2023, but it remains unbeaten in 12 league games.
Striker Lautaro Martinez, Serie A’s top scorer with 15 goals, and defender Federico Dimarco could be available again from muscle injuries after both trained with the squad ahead of Saturday’s game.
New signing Tajon Buchanan, though, is not expected to feature.
The 24-year-old wing-back only officially completed his move from Club Brugge on Friday to become the first Canadian to play in Serie A.
“I think that it was the right decision for me at this point in my career,” Buchanan said.
“I have followed Inter for a while and I see myself playing in this team. I am really excited for what is to come.”
Buchanan added: “I can play in a number of roles, but my aim is just to learn as much as possible, make myself available for the team and adapt to a new style of play.
“I want to take it day by day, working hard. I want to settle in as quickly as possible and learn as much as possible from the coach, the staff and the guys that have been here for a while.”
