Simone Inzaghi admits Romelu Lukaku ‘still feels pain’ and believes Milan didn’t deserve to win the last Serie A derby.
The two Milanese sides meet in the Supercoppa clash in Riyad tomorrow. Lukaku partially trained with the team on Monday but is not expected to start and may not even go on the bench against the Rossoneri.
“He partially trained with the tea yesterday, hopefully, he can work without feeling pain, which didn’t happen after the Parma game,” Inzaghi said at a press conference.
“We’ll see today. If he doesn’t recover for tomorrow, we have hope for the game with Empoli.
“We know how important this game is: it’s a final and a derby. I’ve read that it has happened only twice in history,” the coach continued.
“Not all the teams manage to get here, we know what it represents, we want t defend the trophy we won last January.
“We want to do well, we played many derbies last season, and incidents always decide these games.
“We lost this season’s derby undeservedly, Milan were superior in the first half, but Inter deserved more in the second.”
How can Inter improve their playing style?
“It depends on the opponents you meet. I am happy with what I’ve seen so far, three wins and a draw in four games,” said Inzaghi.
“We’ll face strikers of great value. When a team concedes, people only talk about defenders, but the defensive phase depends on all players, that’s how you win important games.”
Who will start on the right flank? Matteo Darmian or Denzel Dumfries?
“We must make no mistakes and play with intensity. Darmian is doing well and is a great resource for us. Dumfries is improving he is overcoming a few problems he had at the World Cup.”
Arrigo Sacchi has been critical of Inter’s playing style lately. What does Inzaghi make of it?
“Everyone is free to express his opinion. It’s up to the people concerned to understand who and what to listen to.”
Inter currently sit fourth in the Serie A table, level on points with Juventus and ten below table leaders Napoli.
The Nerazzurri have scored 38 goals and conceded 14 in 18 Serie A matches this season. Their next league match is on Monday, January 23 against Empoli at the Stadio Meazza.
Inter are the defending Supercoppa champions having beaten Juventus 2-1 last season.
Inter have conceded 24, not 14
Must be some kind of UK habits to train with the tea?