Shakhtar Donetsk head coach Roberto De Zerbi has given his thoughts ahead of his team’s Champions League clash with Inter tomorrow.
Speaking in a press conference ahead of the match the Italian tactician gave the view that the Nerazzurri will be formidable opposition, but stressed that his team’s mentality is to play without fear and that they believe they can get a result from the match.
Inter and Shakhtar both come into tomorrow’s Group D clash having suffered defeat in their first matches of the group stage, against Real Madrid and Sheriff Tiraspol respectively.
The Nerazzurri are widely considered favourites to progress from the group ahead of Shakhtar and Sheriff despite the frustrating loss against Real leaving them on zero points so far.
However, De Zerbi emphasized that he thinks anything can happen in the match and that his team will do everything they can to make life difficult for the Nerazzurri.
“Inter are a strong team,” the former Benevento and Sassuolo boss said, “they were strong last year and winning the league was important, I see more conviction and awareness of their strength. We try to play the game we play against everyone, thought.”
He went on, “We have changed compared to last year and we want to make life difficult for all the opponents we face. Sometimes almost everything succeeds like against Dynamo, we have to try to improve more and more, there is a lot to build on.”
Of the Nerazzurri he said, “Inter lost Lukaku and Hakimi and replaced them with strong players with different characteristics. They lost Conte and took on Simone Inzaghi, who is equally good and young, at Lazio he did well.”
“Winning helps to become stronger,” he said of his opponents for tomorrow, “You feel more aware, you are more convinced and you know which is the right path. I see Inter as stronger, more solid, more mental strength.”
Of Inter coach Inzaghi he said, “I faced Inzaghi several times, sometimes it went my way and sometimes his, I respect him as a coach. He was the right coach for Inter at the moment.”
“I don’t feel the pressure, I’m sure about tomorrow,” he went on. “I’m Italian. and I’m proud of it, but I’m also proud to work at Shakhtar, With the pressure you have to live with it if you want to do this job.”
On whether tomorrow’s match will be decisive he said, “Inter started in a different way from us, they played against Real and we against Sheriff, but we have two completely different realities. I don’t know the attitude Inter will have, they have conceded a few more goals, but they have also scored many.”
“Inter are doing well,” he continued, “I have seen almost all of their matches, even against Atalanta who are physical and strong, and Inter have played a great game. I do not think their attitude will change, we must be ready for all possibilities from them.”
“Doing everything may not be enough to win,” he reflected on what it will take to beat the Nerazzurri. “Inter are stronger than us. But Shakhtar were also stronger than Sheriff and they beat us, we always start from 0-0.”
He spoke of his team’s approach for tomorrow, “Shakhtar must be organized and have courage, he must have fun to play at 100%, you need a lot of joy in playing. It’s not necessarily enough to win, Inter have strong players. We want to give our best in every game.”
