Francesco Pio Esposito experienced a truly memorable night. The young Inter forward was given a starting role by coach Chivu and scored the opening goal in the 2-0 victory against River Plate. This win secured the Nerazzurri`s path to the round of 16 in the Club World Cup. Speaking to Sport Mediaset after the match, he shared his feelings: “I`m incredibly proud of what we accomplished in this match, I haven`t fully processed it yet. Seeing the ball enter the net was shocking, I couldn`t believe it. I`m happy with my personal performance, but also with the team`s; we played a great game, showing determination and earning qualification for the next round. It`s a source of great pride to see the results of years of hard work finally paying off.”
Does Chivu ask you to be physically combative?
“Protecting the ball and helping the team advance are my primary characteristics. I actually appreciate it when defenders play physically; perhaps it even works to my advantage. The coach asks me to leverage my strengths, and I succeeded tonight. However, with teammates of this caliber, everything becomes much simpler. I thank and will always be grateful to the coach for this significant second chance.”
There seems to be good chemistry with Lautaro.
“Playing alongside a champion like him makes things easier; I can only benefit from his contributions.”
What are your plans for this summer?
“I intend to continue doing what I did today against River Plate – seizing the opportunities that come my way. I have the World Cup coming up, and I will make the most of this World Cup.”
