Simone Inzaghi acknowledges Inter put on a ‘show of strength’ by crushing reigning champions Napoli 3-0, thanks Carlos Augusto for being a makeshift centre-back and insists they know what the headlines will say.
The Nerazzurri had a few scares, such as Matteo Politano thumping the crossbar and a couple of big Yann Sommer saves, but were absolutely clinical at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Hakan Calhanoglu’s daisy-cutter found the bottom corner from distance, then Nicolò Barella shimmied between defenders before a late Marcus Thuram tap-in on Juan Cuadrado’s assist.
“The first half started well and the Thuram goal was disallowed for a very tight offside,” Inzaghi told DAZN.
“Napoli are the Champions of Italy, we ran some risks on the Politano chance and the Sommer saves, but the lads deserved it and I hugged them all individually.
“This was our fifth away fixture in the last six games, the third in a week, and we needed a performance like this. Once we went 2-0 up, we took full control.
“Winning like this in Naples is satisfying, but we also know it is only Week 14 and there is a very long way to go.”
The comments about Inter tend to say they have become ‘mature’ since reaching the Champions League Final last season and Inzaghi does agree, pointing specifically to their ability to work around a shortage of defenders.
“It was a show of strength, of team spirit, those who started and came on, for example we lost De Vrij after 18 minutes with two other defenders already out. Carlos Augusto had not played in the back three for a couple of years, he did it in Serie B I think under Giovanni Stroppa at Monza.
“I did not want to shift Matteo Darmian off the right flank, as it was tricky dealing with the Georgian (Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, ndr). I preferred to opt for Carlos Augusto and he did really well.
“Coming to Naples, you have to expect some difficulties. We had prepared in a certain way to push our wing-backs against their full-backs, because the further away you keep Napoli from the penalty area, the better. The only time we really struggled was when we were defending too deep.”
With Diego Milito in the DAZN studio as a pundit, Inzaghi was asked if there were similarities between the Milito-Samuel Eto’o dynamic and that of Lautaro Martinez with Thuram.
“There are comparisons, as one is more dangerous in the penalty area, the other moves around him. We must also not forget that we have players like Alexis Sanchez and Marko Arnautovic who can help us out, as they did midweek in the Champions League.”
Inter put in such dominant performances so far this season and already booked their place in the Champions League Round of 16, but Inzaghi is keeping his feet on the ground.
“It was honestly not expected to do this well immediately with many new players. The step up in quality comes when you lose players and have to call on others to help out, for instance Carlos Augusto as a centre-back.
“Now we will see their condition, we hope to have Alessandro Bastoni back soon, Pavard in 10-15 days, while there is a little more pessimism around De Vrij.
“I am sure tomorrow they will write that Inter have no rivals, while on Wednesday we were 3-0 down against Benfica and they were writing very different headlines. We know that, we’ve experienced it and can come to expect it.”