Inter director Beppe Marotta wants the team to ‘honour the jersey’ against FC Porto and hints they might not want to extend Romelu Lukaku’s loan from Chelsea.
It kicks off at the Estadio do Dragao at 20.00 GMT.
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.
The Nerazzurri won the first leg 1-0 with a late Lukaku goal at San Siro after Otavio was sent off for a double yellow card.
“Aside from the technical and tactical issues, this is a game where you need heart and motivation most of all. We need great determination and courage,” Marotta told Sky Sport Italia.
“Let’s say we look at the present, not the past or the future, we are concentrated on this special evening. We need to get the result for ourselves, for the fans, for the owners and the history of this glorious club. Everyone knows their duties and ambitions, we must honour the jersey to the end.”
Lukaku is benched in favour of Edin Dzeko this evening as partner for Lautaro Martinez. Considering the financial boost Inter would receive from reaching the Champions League quarter-finals, does tonight’s result also help decide Lukaku’s future?
“I want to underline it was a one-season loan, so he will go back to Chelsea. This is an anomalous season, the problems we have are shared by other clubs, namely that their players took part in this unusual World Cup. Lukaku and Brozovic have not fully recovered, and in Lukaku’s case his physicality and fitness are the key elements of his game.
“He is not at 100 per cent, he is not yet the same Lukaku that we saw in previous years.”
It remains to be seen if Inter will even attempt to negotiate another loan for Lukaku from Chelsea.
Marotta said there are no more club symbols after Milan Skriniar announced he was leaving as a free agent, heading towards Paris Saint-Germain, but could Lautaro Martinez perhaps commit himself to the Nerazzurri?
“I say there are no club symbols because the romantic aspect of football has rather fallen away and clubs are now miniature industries. It is also true that our football has changed dimension compared to the others, so our players become more appetising for teams around Europe.”
FC Porto coach Sergio Conceicao said Serie A makes him sleepy, so he prefers to watch the Bundesliga, insulting the league where he used to play for Parma, Lazio and Inter.
“We will try to change his mind. These are games that draw more attention than most.”
Marotta was asked by Sport Mediaset if Simone Inzaghi’s future depends on reaching the Champions League quarter-final.
“Absolutely not, you cannot put doubts over a coach for one game. Inzaghi is doing his job well, with great professionalism, let’s leave him to work without pressure.”