Simone Inzaghi was prepared for the Derby d’Italia against Juventus, highlighting how Inter ‘know what this match represents’ and confirming a few absences in his squad.
The Nerazzurri booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League after a testing tie with Porto, where they edged out a 1-0 win on aggregate. Inzaghi’s side have been drawn against Benfica in the next stage, setting up a tough but winnable clash for Inter.
In Serie A, Inter still sit second behind league leaders Napoli, having 12 more points than Juventus. The Bianconeri are hoping to overturn the 15-point deduction they were handed in January, something that would see them rise from seventh to second in the table as it stands now.
Speaking in a press conference today, Inzaghi first discussed the importance of the Derby d’Italia.
“We know what this match represents, both for us and for our club and our fans. It will be a match between teams who are well matched, who have achieved an important qualification in Europe.”
He gave his thoughts on Massimiliano Allegri’s Juventus.
“We consider Juventus a great team, because they are complete and made up of many very strong players. We respect them a lot, we have met them in very close finals, already in the first meeting this season and then we will have two semi-finals of the Coppa Italia.
“We respect them a lot, we know how important mental preparation is.”
The Italian coach commented on Inter’s struggles after a Champions League outing.
“The qualification obtained is a great pride, but we know that it is the last game of an intense period. The tiredness is there, injuries too, but we have to be good not to look back and only think about tomorrow.
“It will be very important for our path in the league, we know that after the break we will have an April with another sixteen games between now and the end. Hopefully there will be a few more…. I’ll need all the players, hopefully we’ll have more at our disposal.”
Inzaghi was asked if he was more concerned about the injuries in defence or the slump after important matches.
“Absolutely, it’s a fact that after big matches…. We had these two and a half days, unfortunately with all these commitments we know that among those in the Champions League race we will be the busiest in April.
“We have to grow and improve. As for the injuries, we definitely won’t have Skriniar, we won’t have Gosens and Bastoni. Then there will be a few players to evaluate well in today’s finishing session.”
The Inter coach was asked if he was dreaming of a Champions League final, considering the path ahead of his team in the competition.
“That’s what we all hope for, but clearly in this moment as a coach the only thought is Juventus. We know what happened on Tuesday in Porto, we are proud for ourselves, for our club and our fans, but we have the focus in the league. We know that we are in the last game of a terrible cycle.”
He provided an update on Chelsea loanee Romelu Lukaku.
“He is increasing his minutes, he was very important together with all his teammates to reach this goal in the Champions League.
“Let’s not forget that in the first leg he scored, then he played 90 plus recovery in Spezia. He came on in Porto well, he’s working in the best way, then as a coach I have to make choices.
“I’m happy with him, I’m happy with the way he’s training and the fact that Correa has also been training well for four days.”
Inzaghi was asked if he feels that Inter are truly second as Juventus look to overturn their point deduction.
“I look at the table at the moment, then there are the judicial cases for which there are the appropriate bodies.
“I can congratulate Juve on qualifying for the quarter-finals, hopefully we’ll find out the rest soon because the teams that are struggling need clarity.”
He spoke about how six Italian teams progressed in European competitions.
“We needed to, and then we all played great games, if I think of Milan and Napoli in the Champions League I congratulate them, they deserved as much as we did.
“And so did Roma, Juventus, Fiorentina. They are six teams, a great step has been taken, we must all continue because the more we go forward the better it is for our country.”
Finally, Inzaghi commented on if criticism could be an incentive to do better.
“Mine was not an outburst, it’s normal that both the team and I hear everything. My biggest concern is to work daily for the good of Inter, then we know that criticism will always be there. We have to understand which ones to take and which ones to discard.”