With the Serie A season in its business end of proceedings, teams are counting on their best players to maintain a consistent run of form until the campaign finale. And few players are more important than goalkeepers.
Of all the top three contenders for the Scudetto title, Inter have maintained the best defensive record in the league, conceding just 24 goals in 31 matches, although they do possess an extra game in hand.
Much credit can be handed to veteran goalkeeper Samir Handanovic, who despite being 37, is proving to be as instrumental as ever with his performances. The Slovenian ace is the only Nerazzurri player to have not missed a single minute in Serie A in 2021/22 – racking up 2,790 minutes – on par with Sassuolo shotstopper Andrea Consigli and new Roma signing Rui Patricio (2,880 minutes, having played a game more).
493 – Since 2003/04 Goran Pandev has played 493 #SerieA games, only Fabio Quagliarella (515) and Samir Handanovic (537) have made more appearances in the period. Monument.
— OptaPaolo ? (@OptaPaolo) January 31, 2022
Moreover, Handanovic has a save percentage of 81% (84 saves from 104 shots on target) that makes him a force to be reckoned with on field.
Milano has been in good hands so far this season with Samir #Handanovic and Mike #Maignan? pic.twitter.com/Ny4adVf0jp
— The Italian Football Podcast (@ItaFootPod) April 11, 2022
Inter have recorded 14 clean sheets in 31 matches so far i.e. as many as in the entire previous title winning campaign. The club’s record for the most clean sheets was in the 2018/19 edition of Serie A, when they registered 17 to their name.
With seven more matchdays to go, Inter can expect to overcome that record, thanks to their upturn of form since overcoming Juventus in the Derby d’Italia early in April.
Inter have signed André Onana on free transfer for next season as new goalkeeper. Samir Handanovic tells Dazn: "It's not a problem for me, I just want Inter to be stronger". ? #Inter
"I'm out of contract in June – I hope we can reach an agreement but there's nothing decided".
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 4, 2022
Inter have reportedly signed Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana to succeed Samir Handanovic between the posts, and the veteran’s form of late is certainly bound to give Simone Inzaghi headaches to deal with.