Inter boss Simone Inzaghi has shrugged off the idea that his side are the favourites going into the two-legged Champions League semi-final derby against Milan.
Both sides are preparing for an occasion that will be watched around the globe as the red and blue sides of the city do battle for a spot in the final in Istanbul next month, 18 years after the last time the clubs met in the knockout stages of the competition.
The bookmakers and most pundits seem to have Inter down as the favourites given their league form has recovered well and they arguably boast greater squad depth, but anything can happen over the 180+ minutes.
Inzaghi did his pre-match press conference on the eve of the first leg tomorrow at San Siro, with his comments relayed by MilanNews.
Inter arrive at the Euroderby in better form. Is it the best time for a game like this?
“Well, the last few games, including the quarter and semi-finals, have made us prepare for all games in the best possible way. Tomorrow we know it’s a Champions League semi-final, it’s a derby, it’s the derby. We all know how important it is for all of us and we want to deal with it in the best way.”
How are Lautaro and Correa?
“We know there are moments for everyone. I was a striker, we had a phase in which they weren’t able to score, now everyone is back to scoring and that’s what we want. But I was calm before and I am now. The problem is when a striker has no chances, up until now they’ve always had them. Now they’ve all scored and they have to continue like this.”
The margin of error close to zero tomorrow. How are the team?
“You’ll need to use your head and heart. I have no doubts about the heart. We’ll have to be good with the head, there will be pitfalls and unexpected events during the match, knowing that you play in 180 minutes.”
You have a fully fit squad nearly, are you spoilt for choice?
“No. In midfield and in attack I have the opportunity to choose, our choices are talked about a lot. Given the injury of Gosens, who we don’t know if he can be called up tomorrow, our rotations are a bit limited.
“Zanotti played in Verona, in defence given the absence of Skriniar we hope to recover D’Ambrosio who will allow me to have more alternatives, he can play both wing-back and in the back three. I hope he comes back and I can evaluate Gosens.”
Will it be a close game or do you plan to repeat, for example, the performances in Lisbon?
“We know what derbies are, we’ve played seven in these twenty months. We’ve won or lost, they’re derbies that can give us important ideas, at the same time we know that each match is unique. There will be times when we’ll be more attacking and others in which we will be more defensive. We will all have to be together, a great sacrifice and make an extra run for our partner.”
What have you prepared for in terms of the opponent?
“Milan are a quality team, very well coached. Each match is a story in itself, we know that they are not only a counter-attacking team, but they know how to play. They have an excellent dribble and we will have to be good at all stages.”
How does your team change if Leao is there or not?
“We all know the qualities of the player. We know that he may or may not be there, clearly we will take some precautions but it will not condition our match plan.”
But are you preparing for the match with Leao on the pitch or not?
“I’m not certain like you, I said it before. We’ve seen him, we know his qualities, then in these games every player who is called into question will give his best.”
Brozovic starting and Calha out?
“I have many close battles, this afternoon’s training session and tomorrow morning’s are still to come. I have the option to choose, I’m serene because the lads know I have to do it and if someone doesn’t start they will be very useful, as happened against Juventus or Benfica.”
Pioli said that Inter are favourites. Do you feel this label on you?
“Favourites, not favourites… We have seen: the matches are all stories in themselves, we don’t hide and we know that with heart and head we want to play it together in the best possible way, knowing that it would be a huge step to take with determination, running and aggression.”
Did you talk about past derbies, this season where and how did you lose the first and win the other two?
“We’ve played many, I said it before: seven. We’ve won, lost, made semi-finals, finals. We’ll have to be very good at using our heads when needed, because there have always been unexpected events in such important matches: in the last few, we’ve always been good at being calm.”
Is this the high point of your career?
“We know what it represents, it’s the derby. I’m serene, I’ve seen the boys work concentrated, it will be a match that will be decided in 180 minutes.”
Before the first leg against Porto you said you could win the Champions League. What did you see that no one else saw?
“After having passed a group with Barcelona and Bayern, two of the strongest in Europe, the team has gained great awareness. Then all the matches are very difficult, Porto and Benfica have been two very difficult obstacles to overcome. One more is missing.”
What is the difference between the Milan and Rome derbies?
“They are two very heartfelt derbies. I have played a lot of them as a player and as a coach, in Milan he is very much felt and perceived as in Rome.”
What will you say in the dressing room to make the desire to play prevail?
“There shouldn’t be fear, but a great desire to embrace each other with our fans, as we have done in recent months. Both of us as a team and as a club have made a unique group to experience evenings like this. Let’s hope they can take us to the final.”
A month ago you were preparing for the first leg with Benfica at a very delicate moment. If you look back, think of everything that has been written and said in this period, and then we look at today, three points behind second place, in the cup final and ready to play for a Champions League semi-final, what are you feeling?
“We know that football is made up of moments, we’ve lost tough points and we know it. We told each other to plug our ears and pedal, now we know we’ve won a final on an important pitch, in the Champions League we’re in the semi-finals and in the league the last four victories have shown the table from another aspect, but we know that there are still four games left and we will have a lot to do.”
