Inter boss Simone Inzaghi has said that Friday’s opponents are a strong team and Milan Skriniar is focused on the job amid transfer speculation, according to a report in the Italian media.
As has been reported by FCInternews, Simone Inzaghi did his press conference on Thursday ahead of the match against Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico which is on Friday night.
He was the Lazio coach for five seasons which means that it is a very special game for him on a personal level. He is wary of the quality Lazio possesses, pointing out that Inter are facing a strong team.
“Certainly we know that we are facing a strong team that this year has improved in terms of personnel, has kept all the strongest players and we know that we will have to show character. We will face a prepared team, in an important stadium with a lot of fans, we will have to play a careful game.”
Speculation has been swirling around the future of Slovakian defender Milan Skriniar but Simone Inzaghi says that he is focused and attentive on the job in hand.
“He is well, focused, attentive, there were some problems at the beginning of the preparation because he was coming from an injury with the national team, he had never missed a training session in his career, this injury slowed him down but then he made himself available, he is growing his condition and that of Inter.”
The coach was asked about Lazio striker Ciro Immobile and he admitted that he has a lot of affection for the Italian.
“I have a great affection for Ciro, he has had important seasons with me, he did it again last year with Sarri, I know it’s a special match for everyone, we all care about it, I wish him to always score but let him rest against us.”
The coach claimed that Romelu Lukaku has done well early in the season but he wants to see improvements from everyone in the team.
“I think he did well in the first two games, not only him but to the whole team. Our condition is improving, we have players with important physicality, we knew that with the preparation we needed important matches, we started well and we want to continue trying to improve all the players, including Lukaku, trying to recover players like Mkhitaryan.
“We’ll have so many close games, 19 with only one break, we’ll have to try to have everyone available. Everyone is there tomorrow except Mkhitaryan.”
Asked about the importance of direct clashes, Simone Inzaghi said: “We know that they are important, until last year they would have been decisive with equal points, but in Italy there are no easy matches, important teams lose points even with the so-called small games.”
There is a suggestion that Roberto Gagliardini may play against Lazio, on which the coach said: “He can be a solution, he did well on Sunday.
“He started late in preparation with a problem he was carrying, it’s a choice like many others knowing that from tomorrow there will be a tour de force until the next break. I’m lucky enough to coach important players who every day make it difficult for me to make choices.”
There are many matches coming up and on the rotation of the squad, the coach said: “I know that you have to make changes, last year I made some changes, now we are at the beginning, the team is well, but in all these games I will choose from time to time the formation without distorting it but changing 3-4 elements depending on the opponents.”
Simone Inzaghi was asked about his relationship with Lazio coach Muarizio Sarri: “They are difficult matches against Sarri, I met him when he was at Napoli, at Juve, he is a prepared coach who gives his imprint to the teams then every match is a story in itself.”
Kristjan Asllani’s role in the team is yet to be defined but Simone Inzaghi says he can play more than one role: “He is working very well, he arrived with a lot of expectations, he was taken to help Brozovic in that role. Not having Mkhitaryan and one less centre-half, he can be used in that position although I see him as a playmaker in front of the defence.”
Federico Dimarco has been challenging Robin Gosens in the left wingback role and the coach says he will use him where he is most functional.
“Dimarco is a modern player, with technique, mobility, who is carving out an important space for himself because he is deserving of it.
“More than as a midfielder I see him as a fifth or third, depending on the matches I can choose, I am lucky to have him as well as Darmian in the same role. From time to time I will try to use him where he is more functional.”
