The Inter squad are ‘fired up’ and ready to make amends for their recent results against Porto in the Champions League according to Hakan Calhanoglu.
The Nerazzurri midfielder joined Simone Inzaghi for the pre-match press conference ahead of the second leg of the round of 16 tie in Portugal on Tuesday evening.
Inter have only won one of their three games in Serie A since the first leg against Porto, including disappointing losses at the hands of Thiago Motta’s Bologna and Leonardo Semplici’s Spezia.
When asked about the feeling among the Inter camp coming off the back of those defeats, Calhanoglu declared that: “Those games have already gone.”
“We don’t want to talk about it because our progress in the Champions League has always been positive,” he continued. “We’ve always played well against strong teams. Tomorrow we want to go to the quarter-finals, that’s our goal.”
The Turkish international recognises the significance of qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday night, not only for the players but for the club and its wider fanbase.
Calhanoglu also hopes his previous experiences against Portuguese sides will stand him in good stead at the Estadio do Dragao.
He said: “Tomorrow will be very important, not only for us players and for the coach, but for the club in general. We know that tomorrow will be a tough match.”
“I already know what the atmosphere is like because I’ve already played here, my team-mates are already fired up. Tomorrow will need heart and everybody giving their best until the last minute. I know the Portuguese well, I say this with the utmost respect.”
The 29-year-old was also asked what he made of comments made by his agent comparing his body language on the pitch to that of Andrea Pirlo.
In response, Calhanoglu was reluctant to accept the comparison, but confessed his admiration for the former Azzurri star.
“I like Pirlo a lot, he’s my idol. But I don’t like talking about myself, I try to do my job as best as possible”.
According to Calhanoglu, the togetherness of the squad is what will get them through to the last eight of the Champions League.
He added: “When we fall we get back up, we’ve always done it that way. We are together for better or worse. I see it in my teammates, we are prepared.”
“In football, you can’t always be at the top, but you always have to respond well”.
Inter take a 1-0 advantage into the second leg against Porto, which will kick off at 20.00 GMT on Tuesday.