Inter coach Simone Inzaghi wants to fill the gap with Milan, but stresses that the Nerazzurri didn’t have much time to prepare for the game after their Champion League clash against Sheriff.
The Nerazzurri face Milan in the derby della Madonnina tomorrow.
It kicks off at 19.45 UK time.
Both Inter and Milan played in the Champions League on Wednesday, but while the Rossoneri hosted Porto at San Siro, Inter were playing against Sheriff in Moldova.
“It’s my first Milan derby, we returned from the Champions League match on Thursday, but we spent all day at the training ground yesterday,” Inzaghi said at a press conference.
“I had the good fortune to play many derbies as a player and coach,” he continued.
“We didn’t have many days to prepare for the match, but I saw the right belief in my players’ eyes, we know it’s an important game for us, we are doing good things. In Germany or Spain, we’d be one or two points close to the top.”
The Nerazzurri sit third in the Serie A table, seven points off leaders Milan and Napoli. The former Lazio tactician expects a win to close the gap with Inter’s city rivals.
“Certainly, it will be an intense match. We all know what a derby means, the importance for the fans and the club,” Inzaghi said.
“We’ve played only 11 matches so far and we must focus on one game at a time. We are seven points behind Napoli and we want to fill the gap starting from tomorrow.
“We knew there would be 27 games remaining with so many points available, but tomorrow’s game is crucial for the table and for the conditions of the group, which is improving day by day.
“There is great enthusiasm, the fans are always following us and tomorrow they will help us.”
What are Milan’s strengths and weaknesses?
“They are a solid team, capable of scoring many goals,” Inzaghi said.
“I think we played well against direct opponents. We know what happened against Juventus, we missed a penalty against Atalanta and, against Lazio, we played really well for 75 minutes.
“We didn’t start this cycle of games well, by losing in Rome, but the last few games boosted our self-confidence and the result is crucial tomorrow.
“The ranking is there and must be watched carefully, but in a derby when you enter the field the rankings are reset.
“Praise to Milan and Napoli, but we need to play our game tomorrow.”
How can Inter beat the Rossoneri?
“It’s about runs, determination, how you attack and defend, knowing that we’re facing a worthy opponent who’s been doing things that never happened to anyone in the last 40 years. It is valid for both Milan and Napoli.”
Inter have only lost one game this season, against Inzaghi’s former club Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico.
The Serie A champions will host Napoli and Shakhtar at San Siro in the first two games after the break.