Simone Inzaghi is so proud and impressed with Inter’s ability to come back from trailing situations after their 4-2 Coppa Italia Final win over Juventus. ‘This team never gives up.’
The Nerazzurri had taken an early lead with Nicolò Barella’s ferocious strike, but Juve turned it around through Alex Sandro and Dusan Vlahovic in the space of 120 seconds.
A Hakan Calhanoglu penalty forced extra time, which is when Ivan Perisic surged into action with two goals in two minutes, converting a spot-kick for the Matthijs de Ligt foul on Stefan de Vrij and firing in a screamer for 4-2.
“It was a good performance against a very, very strong opponent. We did well in the first half-hour, slightly lost our shape towards the break and then had a bad approach to the second half, conceding two really avoidable goals. We should’ve been more careful,” Inzaghi told Sport Mediaset.
“However, this team never gives up. If I ever needed a response, I got nothing but responses from this side from July to today, it’s been one long whirlwind of emotions.
“Now we have two more Serie A matches to play and we want to end the season as well as possible. It is also only fair we enjoy these moments, it had been a decade since we won the Coppa Italia or the Supercoppa, so I am happy for the club, these marvellous lads and the fans who stuck by us from start to finish.”
This is Inter’s eighth Coppa Italia trophy, the first since 2010-11, after also beating Juve during extra time in the Supercoppa Italiana.
As for Inzaghi, he already won the Coppa Italia in 2018-19 in charge of Lazio.
“I am enormously happy to share this trophy, one I cared about very much, with my staff who helped me since August to prepare for three games a week.
“We beat Liverpool in the Champions League, I think we are the only side to beat them in 2022. We wanted to give our all in that Round of 16 tie, it cost us some points in Serie A and created problems, but we have no regrets.
“It was our 50th game of the season, I could not ask for more from my lads. I am very happy, it’s only right we enjoy this trophy with all of our fans.”