Inter head coach Simone Inzaghi feels that today’s opposition Viktoria Plzen should not be underestimated, especially as they are currently dominant in their domestic league.
Speaking to Amazon Prime ahead of the Champions League group stage match, the 46-year-old praised the qualities of the Czech side, and also stated that he has confidence in his staff to replace him on the touchline as he serves a suspension.
On paper, Inter are certainly favourites to take three points against Plzen.
The Nerazzurri beat the Czech champions 2-0 in the reverse fixture without really getting out of second gear, and the Czechs have yet to take a point from this Champions League group.
However, Inzaghi made clear that his team aren’t taking anything for granted.
Three points are vital for Inter to secure their spot in the knockout stages, and the coach wants full concentration from his players.
“We know the importance of this match,” the coach said.
“We come up against a team who are dominating in their league, and who also caused some problems for us in the reverse match.”
“We have to pay maximum attention,” Inzaghi stressed, “they have physical players who know how to counterattack, we have to stay switched on all match.”
The coach also spoke about the fact that he’ll be serving a touchline ban after getting sent off late in the Nerazzurri’s 3-3 draw with Barcelona in the last round.
“It’s too bad that I got sent off, I can’t say it’s undeserved considering I left the technical area very intensely,” he added.
“This has already happened in the past, though, and I trust my staff to replace me in the best way possible.”
Of the team’s upturn in form, Inzaghi said that “We know how quickly judgments and self-belief can change in football.”
“We’ve had a brilliant journey in the Champions League so far, but we have to get the best out of this match so as to not leave everything to what happens in Munich.”
“We were in a similar situation last season with Shakhtar, as we didn’t want to leave everything to the last match against Real Madrid,” he noted, “whereas this time it would be Bayern Munich.”
