Inter head coach Simone Inzaghi knows that getting a result in tomorrow’s first Milan derby of the season will be of massive significance to his team’s season.
Speaking in a press conference, as reported by FCInterNews, the Nerazzurri boss emphasized that his team are preparing to treat the match as one of their most important of the season.
Inter come into tomorrow’s derby seven points behind their city rivals, with the Rossoneri having dropped only two points in their first eleven matches of the Serie A campaign.
Inter have also started the season strongly, and they will feel confident heading into the match as Scudetto holders, but they also know that it will be a tough match, and also are well aware of how important the result will be to their season and their title defense.
He predicted that the teams will see “Definitely an intense match. We all know what a city derby means, the importance for the fans and the club. We want to close these seven games in the best possible way knowing that it will be a very important match.”
“I was lucky enough to play a lot of derby games as a player and manager,” he went on. “They are two separate matches in a season, which speak for themselves. It depends when it happens, now it comes after the Champions League so we had a few days but I saw the right attitude from the players, a lot of conviction.”
He explained that “We know that it is important for us. We are doing excellent things because we are having a very good Champions League, 24 points in eleven matches in Serie A. In Germany or Spain we would be one or two points from the top. Congratulations to Napoli and Milan, but we have to play a great match that will increase out confidence.”
“In my opinion we’ve done well the direct clashes,” Inzaghi went on. “We know how it went against Juve, against Atalanta we missed a penalty and against Lazio we were excellent in 75 minutes. Tomorrow we have a great chance, we started badly in this cycle with the defeat away at Rome and then we got five wins and a draw. These give us confidence but tomorrow it is essential to achieve a result.”
“In the last few matches we have not compromised ourselves because we have always created a lot and scored goals,” he continued. “Clearly we worked better on the defensive phase, more as a team. The block has always been very compact. From the match against Juve onwards we have conceded very little.”
About the significance of the match he stated that “It is my first in Milan. There is great desire. The approach was different because we returned Thursday from a European away match. Yesterday we were here all day, today we arrived early.”
“The fans have been awaiting this match, there is great enthusiasm, we have great fans who always follow us en masse and they travelled to the last match so we wouldn’t be without their support. And also tomorrow they will help us when we all have to suffer together.”
On the status of Hakan Calhanoglu in his first derby against his former side, Inzaghi said that “Today’s training and tomorrow morning are still to come. In midfield I have excellent options. In my opinion Calhanoglu played a great match against Udinese, Vidal was fundamental in the Champions League, Gagliardini against Empoli and Lazio was among the best.”
“I would have liked to have Vecino play against Udinese but he had a fitness problem that he overcame,” Inzaghi went on, “in training he always gives me a tough decision to make. Sensi deserves more time. I am lucky enough to coach a great team, there is great competition especially in the middle of the pitch. That’s okay for me. Going into the training I have something in mind but I need the confirmation from what I see in training.”
Of the Serie A table he stated that “The standings are there and must be watched carefully, but in a derby when you enter the pitch the rankings are reset to zero.”
“Intensity, determination, how you play the two phases count,” he went on, “knowing that we are facing a quality opponent who are achieiving things that never been done by anyone in the last forty years of the league. This is true of both Milan and Napoli.”
On the Rossoneri he stated that “They are a team that score a lot and don’t concede a lot. A team with a lot of mobility, they have been playing together for many years, they have an excellent coach. We will have to pay close attention. We know that we are in a great moment of form, we have the best attack. We can play a great match.”
Of recent contract renewals of Nicolo Barella and Lautaro Martinez, Inzaghi stated that “As a coach, it’s nice. I’m lucky to have owners and directors who make me feel full supported. We knew that this summer we had to make some important sales. They were done, but at the same time once the sales were made the club helped me a lot.”
He went on that “We made important signings and the renewals make it clear that there is a project, Inter are moving forward, we are ambitious, with directorsalways by my side. The renewals of Lautaro and Barella are important, other players will discuss their situation but I concentrate on working on the pitch. For the rest, the directors are always with me.”
On the possibility of Antonio Conte signing players from Inter to Tottenham, he stated that “I’ve never thought about it. I’m focused on the matches. It’s premature to think about January, tomorrow’s match counts and we have to play a great derby to make the fans happy.”
“Only eleven games have passed,” he concluded about the Scudetto race. “We need to think from match to match. It is normal that we have a gap of seven points that we want to make up starting tomorrow. Then we know that there will be 27 matches yet to be plated with many points available, but tomorrow is very important for the standings and for the conditions of the squad that are improving day by day “.
