Matteo Darmian hailed Inter’s ‘technical and moral strengths’ after defeating Milan 3-0 on aggregate to qualify for the Champions League final for the first time since 2010.
The former Manchester United full-back has played every minute of the Nerazzurri’s knock-out stage matches so far this season and noted that it had been ‘an incredible journey’ as Inter pack their bags for June’s final in Istanbul.
And, despite being drawn into one of, if not the toughest group of the competition, Darmian said that he always believed that Inter were capable of putting together a decent run in the competition.
Speaking to Sky after the 1-0 win in the second leg at San Siro on Tuesday night, Darmian told viewers: “We must be proud of what we’ve done, it’s not every year you get to the final of the Champions League. It’s been an incredible journey, after the group stage draw lots of people said we wouldn’t go through, but we’ve always believed in it.
“We’ve shown that we have technical and moral strengths and thanks to that we’ve reached Istanbul.”
The 33-year-old was also asked whether he would prefer to face Real Madrid or Manchester City in the final, but Darmian recognises that both sides will present a tough test.
“I don’t know, they’re two very strong teams.” he said. “Good luck to both of them for tomorrow’s matches. We’ll see one of them in Istanbul.”
Darmian later spoke to the English arm of the Sky network, where he thanked his former employers, Man United, for “making him the player he is today.”
He told the cameras: “I have to say thank you to them (United) because if I am the player and the person that I am, it is also because of them. So just to say thank you to them, but now I am an Inter player, so I give everything for Inter.”