Javier Zanetti says ‘everybody saw what happened’ during the Champions League Round of 16 draw and insists Inter ‘will be ready’ to face Liverpool.
There were moments of embarrassment at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon yesterday when the Champions League Round of 16 draw was declared void for ‘a technical problem with the software of an external service provider.’
Inter had got Ajax, but the new draw paired the Nerazzurri with Liverpool.
Champions League draw: ‘What a joke’, ‘Why not Villareal?’ reactions to Inter vs. Liverpool
“It’s useless to comment because everybody saw what happened,” Zanetti said after an event of Fondazione Pupi, his NGO, in Milan.
“We accept what we got and we are ready to face Liverpool. They are a top club, but we are the same. Inter have a great history. We have a lot of time to prepare for the game and we’ll be ready.
“It’s a great satisfaction to play in the Champions League knock-out phase for the first time in ten years,” the former defender continued.
“Inter have been missing it for too long and it’s great to be back. Liverpool are a top team, but we are Inter and we must face them in the best way.”
Simone Inzaghi’s Inter have qualified for the Round of 16 for the first time in ten years, finishing second in Group D behind Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid.
Zanetti hopes stadiums in Italy will open to 100% capacity in the next few months, so the Stadio Meazza is sold out when the Reds travel to Milan in February.
“I think that’s what everyone hopes, that would mean the situation has improved,” said Zanetti.
“It would be important to have a sold-out stadium against such an important team.”
As of today, stadiums in Italy are only open to 75% capacity due to the COVID pandemic.
#SorteggioChampions, la grinta di #Zanetti
🔵⚫️👇https://t.co/f92D7H7QPP— FcInterNews.it (@FcInterNewsit) December 13, 2021
I agree.
I hope it will be possible to have stadiums back to 100% capacity soon. I also hope that away fans will be banned from all future European games. This will help stop spreading the virus and be much better for the environment.