Simone Inzaghi’s assistant manager Massimiliano Farris explains Inter were suffering from emotional fatigue more than physical, so needed this ‘spark’ to get going against Salernitana and prepare for Liverpool.
The Nerazzurri were in dire straits, without a Serie A victory in over a month, managing just three draws from the last five competitive games.
Serie A | Inter 5-0 Salernitana: Lautaro hat-trick revitalises Inter
However, they broke their dry streak and so did Lautaro Martinez, who went from zero Serie A goals in 2022 to a hat-trick in this 5-0 victory over Salernitana, along with an Edin Dzeko double.
The result has allowed Inter to temporarily leapfrog Napoli and Milan to the top of the table, as the joint leaders go head-to-head on Sunday evening, and they still have a game in hand.
“We expected this performance, because during this difficult moment, we knew that we needed a spark to get us going again,” assistant manager Farris told Sky Sport Italia, stepping in because Inzaghi lost his voice again.
“Salernitana were unbeaten in four and had the first chance to score in the opening minutes. We prepared to attack the space, use the wings, and seeing Lautaro and Dzeko celebrate goals was all we wanted.
“Unfortunately, we had no chance to work in training lately, because there was this seemingly infinite run of fixtures. We did a lot of psychological work, told the lads the tests didn’t show any changes in the physical fitness, while we had no doubts on the quality of Lautaro and Barella.
“We relied on the strength of this group and this evening saw the Inter everyone knew.”
Milan had neutralised the midfield by man-marking Marcelo Brozovic, while Liverpool also put someone on the Croatia international.
“In the last two games, we tried to change our style and make it a quicker vertical passing move. We worked on going back to our strengths, to controlling the midfield and getting those passes with Calhanoglu, Brozovic and Barella.
“Now more or less everyone is trying to stick a man on Brozovic to close him down. He reads the game so well and with support from his teammates to create those spaces and channels, he can do what he did tonight.”
The next step is on Tuesday at Anfield in the Champions League Round of 16, where Liverpool won the first leg 2-0 away from home.
Barella was very impressive this evening, but was suspended for the first leg and will also be banned for the second.
“We know it won’t be easy to overturn that result, but we want the performance. There’s no lack of motivation, we are going to Anfield, it’s the Champions League and we must not forget what we did in the first half of the season. It is the same squad, we played very well in the first leg against Liverpool and will use our best available XI.
“We are the only side who can control their own fate, because if we win every game, nobody can catch us. So we must start realising that strength.”
How does that saying go again? 🚌 🚌
Lautaro Martínez scores for the second time in the game after waiting two months for a goal in 2022! pic.twitter.com/ey92P7V9ir
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 4, 2022
I don’t think beating little Salernitana is quite the same as playing and beating Liverpool – it just ain’t gonna happen folks – Inter is nowhere near that level. Lautaro can score hatricks against the weak opponents, but goes missing in the big games.
Win is always nice, regardless to the small team, but sure it will add motivation for Inter to face against Liverpool. Result is another matter.
The important thing is to the best as much as can