Inter coach Simone Inzaghi has labelled the match against AS Roma as a final and admitted he would have liked to lay the Bologna match in January, according to a report in the Italian broadcast media.

Speaking during his press conference today ahead of the AS Roma match, via FCInternews, the Inter coach said that Inter’s final six games of the season are all like cup finals and must be treated as such by the players.

“This week, having these three games close together is very important for us. We know that and we know that we need to be very clear in preparing for so many games in a single week but the team has already gone through it before. We will reach 52 or 53 games, a very high number. We will have to be good at preparing for them one at a time knowing that we have six finals from here to the end.”

When asked if it is a bad thing that Inter have two more games to play than their rivals, Simone Inzaghi said that it is not a bad thing because one is a cup final. He also admitted he would rather have played the Bologna match back in January.

“It is not a negative because we will have a final. We gave our all. Clearly, we would have liked to play in Bologna when we had to but the pandemic didn’t allow it and now we have it in the final part of the season.”

Speaking specifically about the game against AS Roma on Saturday evening, Simone Inzaghi said that Inter know they are facing one of the toughest teams in the league.

“We know that we are facing one of the strongest teams in the league, in an excellent moment and coached by a great coach we all know. He is doing very well for Roma, we will have to face them with great attention knowing that for us it is a very important match.

“For us it is a final, very important for the rest of us. We know that we are facing a team of great value. They have not lost in the championship for some time. We will have to prepare as best we can for a great game.”

There is a chance that after three straight starts, Joaquin Correa will be dropped to the bench for this match.

“He had an excellent game like his teammates did. We still have today’s training and a bit tomorrow. As of today they are all available except for Vidal who had a sprain in the derby. Then I will decide the formation.”

Simone Inzaghi says that the 3-0 win over AC Milan in the Coppa Italia has given the team some more conviction heading into the Scudetto race.

“The match with Milan gave us conviction, we will play another final and it was very important. We had never lost our conviction as a team, we had collected less points than we had to but now we are there and we have to make play the final few games in the best possible way.”

The manager also stressed that the team must remain calm in the final stage of the season and only focus on the games coming up, not the ones in the past.

“We know that there is a month to go, we have many matches so we will have to be calm and serene to face a match that comes after a few days. We have to leave the derby behind us, tomorrow we will face a team that is very good, we will have to be determined.”

Simone Inzaghi does not agree with the sentiment that the match against Juventus decided the Serie A championship.

“No, it was an important game because it came at a delicate moment for us. I have repeatedly said that since July 8 the guys are working in the best way possible, seriously.

“After the start we had, we raised our expectations, but this must give us an edge to finish in the best way. It will be a long road. The hope is to have as many players available so that we can have choices.”

The boss had praise for his three backup midfielders who have been training well but he is concerned about Arturo Vidal being injured.

“In midfield the players have played a lot but I am lucky to have Vidal, Gagliardini and Vecino. We talked less about the last two because they have played less lately, but they train well and will give us a hand from now to the end.

“Without forgetting Vidal, who entered in the best possible way the other night as well. Unfortunately at 3-0 he suffered an ankle injury but we hope he can come back sooner than expected.”

There has been a lot of discussion around the standard of refereeing in Italy lately but Simone Inzaghi only has praise for the officials.

“The great satisfaction is having reached another final. We have one of the best refereeing classes in Europe and we are lucky. Clearly they can make mistakes as we do. Then over the course of a championship I think that it all evens itself out.”

When asked about the prospect of Robin Gosens and Ivan Perisic both playing in the same starting eleven, Simone Inzaghi said: “I am lucky enough to coach both Gosens and Perisic. They are two great players and they are very well. I have already played them simultaneously with Verona in the last 20 minutes.

“I could also put Perisic on the right but I have Dumfries and Darmian doing a great job. I’m happy to have choices.”