Inter coach Simone Inzaghi believes the Nerazzurri deserved more from their Champions League games and concedes his players are a ‘little tired’ after playing seven games in 20 days.
The Serie A champions visit Sassuolo at the Mapei Stadium tomorrow.
It kicks off at 19.45 UK time.
They sit third in the Serie A table, four points off leaders Napoli.
“It’s the seventh game in 20 days and it will not be easy. There is a bit of physical and mental fatigue, we’ll face a team with great players and it will take the real Inter to get a positive result,” Inzaghi said at a pre-match press conference.
“I’ll work with the entire group for the first time today, so we’ll evaluate and talk to the lads to know how they’ve recovered. Tomorrow morning I’ll pick the best 11,” he continued.
Inter have netted 20 goals in six Serie A games but are still without goals in two Champions League matches. How does Inzaghi explain it?
“I think it can happen, I believe it is the result of episodes and moments. Against Shakhtar, we had sensational opportunities, I guess it depends on episodes.
“Against Shakhtar, we were not the usual Inter, we didn’t express our typical playing style. But given the opportunities we created, we could have won the game, as we could have done against Real Madrid.
“Balance is essential, I think that we played a good game in Ukraine. Had we been a little more clinical, we would have won the game.
“We are at a good point. We can improve again and the team has made six very, very good league games.
“We miss those points we deserved between Sampdoria and Atalanta, but we’re happy. I just wanted to have more than one point in the Champions League, given the opportunities created.”
Inter confirmed the club ran at a loss of €245.6m in 2020-21, the highest ever deficit in the history of Serie A. Can Inzaghi reassure the fans about the club’s finances?
“The first goal was to put the club in a safe position. Next year’s balance sheet will be better than the current one,” Inzaghi said.
“The club has done well, the fans are compact, salaries have arrived regularly and there is confidence for the future.”
The Nerazzurri are still unbeaten in Serie A this season with four wins and two draws.
They’ve only collected one point from two Champions League games after a defeat against Real Madrid at the Stadio Meazza and a 0-0 draw away at Shakhtar Donetsk.