Inter coach Simone Inzaghi underlined how his side ‘have respect’ for rivals Juventus ahead of their Derby d’Italia clash, which he expects to be ‘very close’.
The Nerazzurri have maintained momentum following their Supercoppa Italiana victory over Napoli last month, edging out a 1-0 win over Fiorentina to return to the top of the league table. Inzaghi’s side are now a point clear of the Old Lady, having a game in hand.
Inter and Juventus shared a point apiece in their first Derby d’Italia of the season back in November and another tense clash is expected at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Sunday evening at 19.45 UK time.
Speaking in a press conference via TMW, Inzaghi first discussed his expectations for the derby with Juventus.
“Tomorrow’s match is certainly very important, not decisive but very important. It’ll be very close, in the first leg it wasn’t exciting, but tomorrow we play at home in front of our fans, and we will try to play the match in the best of all worlds, knowing that we are facing a great team that had a similar path to ours.”
He was asked if he felt Inter had an obligation to win the match.
“That is the objective, all matches are played in the best possible way. The table, beyond the asterisks, our spot and that of Juves are similar. We will have to be good, we know the importance of the match, also because we’re playing in our stadium, but we have great respect for Juventus.”
The Italian coach gave his thoughts on the coming tactical battle in the Derby d’Italia.
“We have played against Juventus many times over the years, we have had very important finals, league matches, Coppa Italia finals, each match has its own story.
“Tomorrow will be a very balanced match, we will have to use a lot of focus, passion and be ready to make an extra run for each other if we’re in difficulty.”
He was asked which Juventus player he’d take from the squad.
“They are all having an extraordinary run in the league, they’re a team that, unlike us, have played 24 games while we have played 30. We have had a great run, they have all been very good.”
Inzaghi discussed which team has more pressure on them in the title race this season.
“Both teams will have pressure, but at the same time we’ll have to be happy to play a match, after a start to the season done by both in the best possible way.
“There’ll be pressure, as is normal in football, but we must be proud to play a match like this. We in our stadium will know that we will have the support of the fans and we’ll try to make them happy.”
The Nerazzurri coach commented on his hopes for the coming weeks and months.
“This is the hope, it’s the preparation we’re doing. The boys are training well, today’s training and tomorrow’s training sessions still need to be done.
“As of today, everyone is available except Cuadrado, as I said before, it is a very important match for all the value there is, in addition to the table.”
He was asked if this was his most important match as Inter coach and if his team are the favourites.
“There has been a lot of talk about favourites, I’ll just say that we are Inter. We know we have great responsibilities on a daily basis, we played 30 very positive matches.
“If I think back to the month of January, we played five matches in 22 days, the last four far away from San Siro and we brought home a trophy that we cared about a lot. We have to continue, January was intense and positive but we have to look forward.
“Tomorrow evening, we have a great match that we want to make our own. But it’s an important match, I wouldn’t make comparisons, there are four months to go, it’s not decisive.”
He touched on the Nerazzurri’s mindset heading into the derby.
“Well, clearly we’ll try to play a great match. On the eve of the match, you think about how to play it, then you always have to think about the opponent in front of you.
“Many times, the results are the result of the performances, but you also have to think that the opponents have prepared like you and want to create great difficulties for you.
“In recent years we have played finals, semi-finals, league matches, in the last year and a half with Juve we will’ve played eight matches, all different. It will be very balanced, and we will try to interpret it well from the start.”
Inzaghi discussed the similarities and differences between himself and Massimiliano Allegri.
“Allegri has won a lot, he is a winning expert, a practical coach. I like him a lot as a coach, we are also of different ages, what I can say is that this year I saw an excellent Juventus.
“Winning 16 games out of 21 means say that they were very good. A super team was needed to keep up with Inter and Juve are proving to be such.”
He spoke about what the fans can expect from Inter in the Derby d’Italia.
“It depends on game to game, even on the opponent you are going to face. As said before, many times a certain match appears in your head and then, despite what you prepare, what you try to create in the days preceding the match, you get matches you didn’t imagine.
“We also saw Inter change from match to match, tomorrow what we want to do is have a great match.”
The Inter coach commented on the new pitch at San Siro.
“We will go today to do the finishing work. In January we played five matches, the last four away from San Siro, between Monza, Florence and Arabia we found perfect pitches.
“I saw Milan’s match against Bologna, it looked like an excellent pitch and it’s right that a stadium like San Siro has it.”
Inzaghi discussed the conditions of Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu and Federico Dimarco.
“They were suspensions that came, while Federico had done three excellent games after his return and had a small problem, in Arabia he spent a lot. On Sunday I opted for Carlos Augusto.”
He was asked about the Denzel Dumfries situation.
“He had an excellent start to the season, he made assists and goals. He was having a great run, then he had a problem in Napoli, in the second match in November, he had an injury and then came back.
“Now I’m happy with him, he worked very well and in Florence he entered in the right way. The real Dumfries is returning, being a physical player, he needs to be at 100%. Darmian played very well in that role, Buchanan has arrived and is impressing me.”
The Inter coach weighed in on the club’s recent clean sheets.
“Aside from not conceding goals, victories bring self-esteem. This week we worked, we saw where we did best in Florence, because we must always try to go beyond the result. We analysed, because in certain moments we must do better. Every match is a lesson for everyone.”
He spoke about how long it’ll take to integrate Tajon Buchanan in the squad.
“He is an excellent player, in my opinion he is a wing back at full range. He has excellent physical qualities and values, very good one-on-one. He comes from another league, it is normal that he needs time but he is improving every day and he will be very useful to us.
“Look at Bisseck, he didn’t speak the language when he arrived, he played in another country with another system and he was very good. Now in the last two months he is an effective starter for Inter, giving us great satisfaction.”
Inzaghi was asked how he and his players deal with the criticism.
“Let’s say that we have had a good gym over the years. We have strengthened ourselves, I think it’s normal, but not only for Inzaghi and the players, it applies to all the big clubs.
“I have faith in my boys, I see them working every day, we know we have a huge responsibility for these colours. I’m confident, but we know that in football we have to look ahead and we only have to think about tomorrow night.”
He was also asked why many of his colleagues in the league ‘play hide and seek’.
“I have responded to this on other occasions, I don’t care what others say but I know that we have our responsibilities. I don’t make predictions, I just say that we will try to play as many games as possible.
“Unfortunately, we lost in extra time in the Coppa Italia, in the Supercoppa we were good at winning, we will have to do our best in the league.”
The Italian coach touched on the qualities of Allegri.
“I said it before, I have great respect for Allegri. Luckily, I won a lot against Juve, we also lost, I don’t think it’s an Inzaghi-Allegri match, but Inter-Juve. The protagonists are the players who go on the pitch, as well as their respective staff trying to help them.”
Finally, Inzaghi discussed if it was an advantage for Juventus to not be competing in Europe in the coming months.
“It’s certainly an advantage to play one match a week, there is no point in denying it, but I think it is also pointless to talk about it.
“We know that this is the case, we are clearly happy with our path in the Champions League, and we continue on our path, preparing the matches in the best possible way and knowing that in January we had five games in 22 days, as well as that in February we will have a very busy month.”