Simone Inzaghi maintains Inter deserve credit for forcing Barcelona to play badly and defends the refereeing decisions ahead of their Champions League showdown at Camp Nou. ‘We are not defensive.’
It kicks off on Wednesday at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT) at Camp Nou.
This remains a head-to-head for qualification in second place behind runaway leaders Bayern Munich, as the Nerazzurri are on six points and Barca three.
“I said that we made the most of our opportunity in the last game, we know how important this is and that we must give something extraordinary. We’re fighting to get through this group with all we’ve got,” said Inzaghi in his press conference.
“It will be tough, but we are Inter and will try to play our game to cause Barcelona problems.”
Last week’s 1-0 result was decided by a Hakan Calhanoglu strike, but there were also huge protests from Barcelona over a last-gasp penalty that wasn’t given for handball.
“I usually don’t talk about the referee, but I did see that UEFA judged it a good performance at San Siro from their officials.
“I saluted President Laporta cordially at San Siro after the match, Barca were very polite.”
Xavi and Pedri described Inter as ‘defensive’ and compared them to Jose Mourinho’s counter-attacking side that won the Treble in 2010.
“Absolutely not, we know Inter’s history and so do you. We played very good football for months, which was recognised in Italy and Europe. There are moments in a season when you have to adjust, but the first half was satisfying and after the break we sat deeper to smother the spaces open to Barcelona.”
With Marcelo Brozovic injured, we could see Kristjan Asllani or Calhanoglu in that midfield role, while Romelu Lukaku and Joaquin Correa have not made the trip.
“The players don’t know the starting XI either, as I am keeping those doubts with me until tomorrow. I still have time to decide.
“I have two strikers who have played three or four games in a row, so at most I could always decide to push Calhanoglu or Mkhitaryan forward into the role of second striker. I would’ve preferred obviously for both teams to face each other at full strength, but injuries are part of the sport.
“I maintain Inter deserve much of the credit for forcing Barcelona to play badly at San Siro. Objectively, Andre Onana did not have many tough saves to make. Tomorrow will be different, the stadium is behind them and fired up, all Italian sides have struggled at Camp Nou historically.
“We can expect many Barcelona crosses into the box, we must have solid marking and be aggressive, solid, determined.”