Juventus clash a watershed moment for Inter, says Spalletti
Inter go into the eagerly anticipated meeting top of Serie A, having gone to the summit for the first time since January 2016 with a 5-0 hammering of Chievo last time out.
Their improvement under Spalletti this season has been remarkable, with the Italian coach taking over a side that stuttered to a seventh-place finish last term.
Inter have 18 points more than they had at the same time last year and are yet to suffer defeat in the league, but Spalletti knows Saturday's trip to Juve is an entirely different challenge to most games and will act as a barometer for their title credentials.
| #Spalletti: "The team has trained well. We will try to do our best for us and also for those who care about Inter."#JuventusInter pic.twitter.com/2ZmFzPlhOa
— Inter (@Inter_en) December 8, 2017
"We know the obstacle that lies ahead of us," Spalletti told reporters at his pre-match news conference.
"Over the past few months we've worked on our identity, conviction and strength that we want to show out on the pitch.
"Out there [on the pitch], that will be enough to tell us if we can win and compete with strong teams like Juventus. We know our qualities and we'll head to Turin to secure as many points as possible.
"This match is defined as the derby of Italy. It is a test that motivates you; however, we must remain calm. These lads have demonstrated they can transfer everything linked to Inter out onto the field.
"We have a precise identity which we work on. We have some objectives and we'll need to secure plenty of points to achieve them. Consequently, it's crucial for us to be aware of who we are."