Inter head coach Simone Inzaghi is hoping that by securing a spot in the Champions League knockout rounds, his team can also give themselves a boost in Serie A.
This according to today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, who report that the coach is aiming to not just reach the round of sixteen this evening, but also to gain some knock-on effects in the league.
Last season, Inter reached the knockout rounds of Europe’s top competition with a game to spare by beating Shakhtar Donetsk at the San Siro in the fifth round of the group stage.
This time around, the Nerazzurri are in a very similar situation.
Three points against Viktoria Plzen this evening would be enough to secure a spot in the round of sixteen of Europe’s top competition.
Last time around, the boost in confidence from reaching the Champions League knockouts for the first time in eleven years coincided with the start of Inter’s best run of form all season in the league.
If the Nerazzurri can repeat the trick, Inzaghi is hoping that they will get a similar effect.
The coach wants to be able to completely focus on the league rather than needing a result on the final day of the Champions League group stage, and he wants the team to approach the rest of the season with a positive mindset and awareness of their quality.
