Inter Milan president Beppe Marotta hailed Liverpool ahead of tonight’s mouth-watering Champions League clash.
Speaking to Sky Sport via FCInterNews, Marotta praised the Reds despite their troubled patch.
Liverpool’s hopes of defending their Premier League crown have vanished after a disastrous start.
However, the Anfield giants remain firmly in the race for a coveted top-eight finish in the Champions League.
Indeed, they head into round six trailing eighth-placed Sporting CP by a single point, having won three of their opening five games.
Yet, Liverpool slumped to a humiliating 4-1 home loss to PSV Eindhoven last time out, throwing Arne Slot’s future at Anfield into doubt.
Furthermore, the visitors have suffered three defeats across their last six competitive matches.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah will not feature for the Merseyside heavyweights tonight after falling out of favor with Slot.
Despite all those setbacks, Marotta views Liverpool as a formidable opponent.
Inter Milan President Beppe Marotta Praises Liverpool
“We haven’t done the math,” Marotta said. “We’d simply like to repeat Saturday’s performance.
“It will be difficult because the opponent has real quality, despite people talking about a crisis.
“They invested half a billion on the market, they’re the reigning Premier League champions, and champions are always hard to face.
“We’ve gained a lot of experience, which is crucial in these competitions.
“Over these three years, the boys have developed a winning mentality.
“They understand the difference between the Champions League and the league; values that are essential when facing a prestigious club like Liverpool, regardless of the moment they’re in.
“Beyond the team that takes the pitch, there are colleagues and collaborators – Ausilio, Baccin, and many others.
“The important thing is having a strong club behind us; these are the fundamentals of a football organization.
“We’re able to put them into practice because the club has entrusted us with this responsibility, and we do our best.
“Results may or may not come, but it’s a model that works.”
Asked how Salah’s words could affect Liverpool, Marotta replied: “I don’t know the dynamics.
“He’s an excellent player, and we need to understand what’s behind it.
“If they’re letting go of a player that important, there must be a reason. I don’t know if it motivates them – they motivate themselves.
“Liverpool have a winning mentality and a great history; they approach these matches with immense motivation.”
