Inter head coach Simone Inzaghi has given an update on the situations of a number of key Nerazzurri squad members ahead of tomorrow’s Serie A clash with Sampdoria.
Speaking in a press conference ahead of the fixture, as reported by FCInterNews, the 45-year-old clarified that defender Alessandro Bastoni is not set for a start tomorrow, and explained that a number of key players are still tired after an international break.
The Nerazzurri head into a busy period in the season, with a barrage of fixtures across Serie A and the Champions League scheduled for the rest of the month as they look to really get their season underway after the first two league matches prior to the international break.
Inzaghi gave some insight into what his approach with the squad will be, as well as his thinking ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Sampdoria, during the press conference.
“For sure tomorrow we will meet a team with good players and a coach that I know who organization his teams well,” he said of tomorrow’s opposition. “They have strengthened itself on the market also with Caputo, we know it will be difficult and important even if we are at the beginning of the seasons still. We will try to give a real Inter performance.”
On whether Lautaro Martinez will be available for the match he said, “Tomorrow I have to evaluate based on training, I’ll see later today. I haven’t seen the four South Americans yet, Vecino only arrived this morning.”
“I’ll talk to them,” he went on, “today we’ll train and I’ll decide. This time I won’t have much to work with and I’ll have to figure out who has recovered best. Bastoni has returned with some fatigue, yesterday he felt a physical discomfort.”
“Certainly he will not start tomorrow,” he said of the 22-year-old “we hope he recovers soon. On Monday he will carry out in-depth examinations, it is an absence that will affect us but I have a lot of choice in the role with Kolarov, D’Ambrosio and Dimarco. I will figure out the best solution.”
“Against Real it will be a fascinating challenge,” he said of Wednesday’s Champions League group stage opener, “I will do my best along with the guys. Now our focus is all on Sampdoria, we will think of Real on Sunday evening.”
On forward Alexis Sanchez, he updated that “Sanchez has trained at full capacity in the last few days, with his physical condition good, and I see in him someone who wants to make a contribution and be a big part of the squad.”
“He’s coming back from an injury with an important relapse and my wish is to have him available,” he continued. “Already tomorrow if the training goes well I will call him up, then we will see from game to game.”
“As for the penalty takers we have Calhanoglu and Lautaro, then Dimarco, Sanchez and Correa if necessary,” Inzaghi said of his team.
He went on, “Tomorrow is a match that we could only spend a few days preparing for, we are limited by the return from the national teams, but this applies to all teams and coaches. We know the calendar from the behinning. Today I’ll talk to the guys and then put out the best possible line-up on the pitch.”
“We need to think about it from game to game,” he said. “Tomorrow Bastoni would have played, Inter is the team that has had the most players involved in the national team. He had only played one game, we hope to be able to get him back soon.”
He continued, “We are only at the beginning of the season but I have to talk to the guys, keep an eye on their recoveries, the minutes played for the national team. My head is in Sampdoria and not on the next matches.”
Of Denzel Dumfries Inzaghi said that “He’s a great player who’s come from another league. He is learning the language slowly, he went away with the national team and played two good matches. Yesterday he trained well. He will become a very important player for Inter, now we will have seven games in 21 days and there will certainly be a place for him.”
“I expect a step up in preparing and recovering energy in a short time,” Inzaghi said of his team. “Motivations will be needed, I’m sure we will and they will help us to overcome fatigue sooner. The first two games in August were in the heat but only one per week, now we will have less time, and this applies to all teams. We will have to be good at recovering, knowing that motivations will make the difference.”
He reiterated, “We don’t have to think about the next match, tomorrow we will go to Genoa to face Sampdoria, a team that will do everything to create problems for us. We must focus only on Sampdoria.”
On midfielder Stefano Sensi he said, “Sensi has returned from the national team, he did light training on his first day back. During the other two he has worked very well and overcome the minor problem that affected him with the national team. He is getting himself in the right condition to be available tomorrow.”
“Sanchez is doing well, he has not gone away with his national team, Wednesday was the first time I’ve seen him since we met on July 8,” he said.
“He has only done four training sessions but he is am enthusiastic guy and I don’t discount his qualities,” he said of the Chilean. “My wish is that he can get back to his best and help the team get through this period.”
Inzaghi spoke about the possibility of playing three forwards, stating that “I think that in certain games it will certainly be good to have an extra attacking threat, though mostly the guys are training for games with two forwards. But if necessary, I don’t see why a Sanchez cannot be played in behind the two forwards.”
On his relationship with the fans Inzaghi said, “I think even before the match against Genoa, on the day of my unveiling, the guys from the Curva welcomed me. For me it was an important gesture. Then they went back to greet the team at the training centre, I was very pleased with the way the Nerazzurri fans welcomed me. They came to Parma, in Verona I thanked them because they pushed the team on even when we were behind.”
And on whether he intends to use striker Martin Satriano, Inzaghi said “Absolutely yes, we kept him in the team because he showed me from the beginning that he belongs here. He has incredible strength, he is enthusiastic.”
“The other four forwards have more experience,” he said, “Satriano has to work hard and show his quality. I gave him a place in the team as a gift, he deserved it. And from now on with so many games I will decide how and whether to use him.”