Acerbi on EURO 2020, 5-0 Champions League final loss and ‘stupid’ Inter teammates | OneFootball

Francesco Acerbi has shared his thoughts on Italy’s victory at EUO 2020, Inter’s 5-0 loss against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, and his favourite teammates, whom he affectionately refers to as ‘stupid’.

The Nerazzurri defender spoke at a publicity event for his recently-released book ‘io guerrero’ in the city of Gallarate on Tuesday. 

Acerbi on Inter, Italy, Mancini and battling cancer

The Inter veteran has had a fascinating time of it over the last 10 years: From battling testicular cancer in 2014, to becoming a European champion with Italy in 2021, to then winning his first Serie A title at the age of 36, Acerbi has seen it all.

MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 10: Matteo Darmian and Francesco Acerbi of FC Internazionale acknowledge the fans after the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Napoli at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on November 10, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“The disease changed me, but it has made me a better athlete,” Acerbi said at the event on Tuesday. “Before, I hadn’t committed myself like a professional athlete, but then something clicked in my head to reclaim everything I’d left on the street before the illness.”

A lot of Acerbi’s talk focused on last season’s 5-0 defeat by PSG in the Champions League final in Munich. “After that game, we told ourselves that we couldn’t do anything,” Acerbi said.

“They were too strong, and we were too tired. We have to look at the glass being half full. We reached the final by beating some very strong teams along the way.”

MUNICH, GERMANY – MAY 31: Francesco Acerbi of FC Internazionale looks dejected as he walks past the UEFA Champions League trophy after defeat to Paris Saint-Germain during the UEFA Champions League Final 2025 between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Internazionale Milano at Munich Football Arena on May 31, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

He also spoke of the EURO 2020 campaign, which saw Italy beat England in the final at Wembley to claim the nation’s first major title since the 2006 World Cup.

“(Roberto) Mancini was good at getting us to be cal, without putting too much pressure on us during the games. (Gianluca) Vialli was a different guy to all the others. When he spoke, you couldn’t help but listen.”

Acerbi also spoke about his ‘favourite’ teammates at club level, whom he referred to as ‘stupid’ in their personalities. “(Alessandro) Bastoni, (Nicolo) Barella and (Federico) Dimarco are really stupid, in a good way of course. They’re some of the funniest guys I’ve ever met, but they know how to apply themselves seriously when it comes to hard work.”