Federico Dimarco reveals whether or not he intended that cheeky finish in the goal that sent Inter through to the Coppa Italia Final, eliminating Juventus. ‘What matters is that it went in!’
The Final will be at the Stadio Olimpico on May 24 between either Fiorentina or Cremonese, as the Nerazzurri hope to retain the trophy they won in extra time last season.
An early goal at San Siro proved decisive, as Nicolò Barella put the ball through the centre off the outside of the boot, perhaps seeking Edin Dzeko, and Dimarco scuffed his finish in much the same way into the far bottom corner.
With the first leg ending 1-1 in Turin, the Nerazzurri sweep through 2-1 on aggregate, so it is the first time ever that Inter have knocked Juventus out of the Coppa Italia semi-final at the sixth attempt.
“We played very well, it is what we wanted and we achieved it with a fine victory. People say they aren’t that interested in winning the Coppa Italia, but once we get there, everyone wants it,” Dimarco told Mediaset.
“We are happy, as we earned it on the field, we deserved this qualification.”
The wing-back also scored in the Supercoppa Italiana, so which goal was his favourite?
“Hopefully, the next goal is my favourite.”
Dimarco was asked to confess if that Lionel Messi-style flick off the outside of the boot to score was his intention to wrong-foot Mattia Perin or just a happy accident?
“In all honesty, it doesn’t matter how I hit it, what matters is that it went in!” he replied with a sheepish grin.
He was visibly tense in the final moments of the match, on the bench with a towel over his head, refusing to watch his teammates in action.
“I know with these games, anything can happen to the final whistle, so I preferred not to look.”
At the start of the season, Dimarco was used more as part of the back three by Simone Inzaghi, but has now become the wing-back all along that flank.
“I had to work really hard and earned my opportunity to play in that role.”
Inter will now face Lazio in Serie A on Sunday and that is a big game, not just for the Scudetto, but also the top four.
“It will be a difficult match, as they all are from here to the end of the season. If we take it one game at a time, we will go far. I think we’ve found ourselves again, we got through in the Champions League, the Coppa Italia and are back on track in Serie A.
“I don’t think there’s a secret to success, it’s just a group of lads who fight for this jersey in every game and prove to everyone what they can do.”