Simone Inzaghi reiterated the importance of tomorrow’s Derby d’Italia and noted that ‘there’s always criticism regardless of results.’
The Nerazzurri have started 2022 in a disastrous fashion, winning only three of their 10 league matches after the Christmas break. The drop in results has allowed both Milan and Napoli to leapfrog them in the Serie A table, and a loss to Juventus tomorrow could end their Scudetto hopes.
Speaking in a press conference today, Inzaghi first discussed what he expects from tomorrow’s Derby d’Italia.
“I think it’s very important, and there couldn’t be a better game to give a strong signal to the environment but above all to ourselves.”
He provided an update on the physical condition of Marcelo Brozovic.
“We all know the importance of Marcelo and all the players. He is fundamental, we have missed him so much. In these days he has worked quite well.
“Today, together with De Vrij, he’ll do the whole training session and we’ll see. It’s important to have him with us.”
The Inter coach touched on the mentality of his squad and how disastrous a loss would be tomorrow.
“Definitely. We’ve only been together for the last two days, but yesterday we had a good training session. It’s up to us with strong performances, anger and character to do better. We know where we were a month and a half ago.
“We’ve lost more points than performances and we know that with game, aggression and determination tomorrow we have to play a great game against a great opponent. We’ll go to Turin with personality and character.”
Inzaghi looked for an explanation for this drop in results.
“I think all teams have had these moments. Ours coincided with the lost derby and the doubleheader with Liverpool.
“At the beginning of the year I would have signed my name to be at the start of April having won a Super Cup, with the Champions League Round of 16 after more than ten years and playing for a Scudetto and Champions League spot, which is what the club asked of us.”
He discussed what he wants to see in tomorrow’s bitter derby against Juventus.
“The result, because as far as performances are concerned, there has never been a lack of them. Even the latest figures tell us that we have created a lot despite picking up seven points in seven games.
“There is disappointment above all for the results. We want to win knowing that we have nine finals, starting with tomorrow, which is certainly the most challenging.”
The Inter coach touched on the difficulty of winning the Derby d’Italia.
“The Derby d’Italia is not the same as the others. It’s very important for the fans, we know we have to play a great game, it will have a big impact on morale and the league table, but we have another eight games plus the return semi-final of the Coppa Italia that will be just as important.”
He spoke about the heavy amount of criticism laid against him and Inter this season.
“Criticism has to be accepted and I have the intelligence to understand it. I know where they come from and I don’t take them into consideration.”
The former Lazio coach commented on Juventus’ growth this season.
“We know Juve quite well. In January with Vlahovic and Zakaria they made important investments because they saw shortcomings and improved.
“Notwithstanding that it was already a great team. Clearly Vlahovic, but also Morata, Dybala or Kean are all strikers to be taken into consideration.”
Inzaghi discussed how the team have approached some recent matches in the wrong way.
“I didn’t like the approaches to Fiorentina and Torino. Analysing the games we had two very good second halves. We know we approached it badly so we have to do better because tomorrow night that will also be decisive.”
Finally, Inzaghi spoke about if he would stay Inter coach regardless of what happens this season.
“Us coaches depend on results and performances. I am very happy and proud of the choice I made in June. I knew that Inter were champions of Italy and probably would have lost two of their best players.
“We’ve done a great job with the staff that has raised everyone’s expectations and now, despite the fact that we’re in the running for everything with a cup already in the bag, criticism has clearly arrived. But there is always criticism regardless of the results.”
🎙Terminata la conferenza stampa di mister #Inzaghi alla vigilia di #JuventusInter. Rileggi tutte le sue parole👉 https://t.co/lLQiWWq7QD pic.twitter.com/rOymcDSCAs
— FcInterNews.it (@FcInterNewsit) April 2, 2022
This guy is simply not a winner. Has not won anything of note. All of his teams choke in the second half of the season. He also likes to whine a little too much for my liking. They were 14 points in front of Juve at one stage, and Inzaghi has failed to guide the team through their hardest months in January/February.
Let’s hope Juve do the job on these pretenders and knock them out of the scudetto race.
Copying the rhetoric of Milan, hopefully also copying their feat. A draw would be excellent; no points for juve second best. Forza Milan!
@Frankie Until this season you could say he hasn’t managed a side of note. Lazio have had a fairly mediocre squad for a long time now. Winning a Coppa Italia, a couple of Super Cups, and securing a Champions League spot with Lazio is an over-achievement in my book.
Inzaghi does have issues though. He says he has the intellect to understand the criticisms, and yet on the other hand doesn’t counter them and dismisses them. Just as with Mancini, his tactics are very predictable, he waits too long to make changes and when he does, they are always like-for-like substitutions and not a change of shape or tactics.
This is a career defining moment for him.
Bruno, he was heading the Serie A table a few season ago with Lazio until the second half of the season when, once again his team chocked. I don’t think it’s so much about the stregth of his teams, but more about his managerial abilities when the pressure’s on. Not all managers can handle it.