Dumfries: ‘I improved at Inter, but I am not really angry’

MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 19: Denzel Dumfries of FC Internazionale (R) celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with teammate Marcus Thuram during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Empoli at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on January 19, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Denzel Dumfries reveals how Inter have improved his game and especially his scoring primato, but assures his grumpy demeanour is all show. ‘I look angry, but it’s only my game face.’

It was a tough slog to break Empoli down at San Siro this evening and there were few real chances until the breakthrough, as Lautaro Martinez hit a long-range strike that swerved into the far top corner.

After that, Dumfries soared above the crowd to nod in a corner, then Marcus Thuram sealed the result on the Marko Arnautovic assist, while Sebastiano Esposito had got one back against his parent club.

This was the fourth goal Dumfries scored in 2025, having also put a brace past Atalanta in the Supercoppa Italiana and recently signed a new contract to 2028.

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“It is a good moment for me, but we must continue working like this to get better every day,” Dumfries told DAZN.

The right-wing-back has been on sparkling form lately, so how has he improved since working with Simone Inzaghi at Inter?

“I think I am more concentrated on staying in the game, it is something I work a lot with. There is also technical stuff, I need to stay concentrated every game, I feel that I am improving a lot.”

The Netherlands international also seems to be enjoying his football a lot more now, although he insists he is not as grumpy as his pictures might make him appear.

“I don’t know that I smile more, but I always see that I look angry, but I’m really not, it’s only my game face. At this moment I smile, because I am very happy and I want to continue.”

Napoli earned a 3-2 victory away to Atalanta last night and that put a marker down on their status as Scudetto contenders, so did Dumfries watch the game?

“I saw the game yesterday, two very good teams and a very big win for Napoli. They are doing very well, the same is true for us and we try to only focus on our own performance.”