Inter head coach Simone Inzaghi is hoping that the team can give their fans something special by reaching the Champions League quarter-finals from their round of sixteen tie against Porto.
Speaking to reporters after the round of sixteen draw, the coach emphasized that the Nerazzurri feel that they can be at their best when their two-legged tie against the Portuguese champions rolls around.
Inter now know the identity of their opponents for the Champions League round of sixteen.
After finishing second in their group, the Nerazzurri risked facing the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea, and Real Madrid in the next round.
Instead, in the first knockout round Inter will come up against Porto.
Inter won’t be underestimating the quality of their opposition in the form of the Portuguese champions, who topped a group containing Club Brugge, Bayer Leverkusen, and Atletico Madrid.
Inzaghi noted that “For the second season in a row we’re in the round of sixteen.”
“Inter have finally gotten back to playing matches on the biggest European stage consistently.”
Of the matches against Porto, the coach noted that “They’ll be two wonderful matches, in two packed stadiums in front of brilliant fans, worthy of such an important competition.”
He continued that “We respect Porto, they’re a team who have been doing well in the Champions League for years.”
“The coach is Sergio Conceicao,” Inzaghi went on, “who was my teammate at Lazio for years, I know him very well.”
“Our goal is to go through and give the fans a gift,” he added, “to play in the quarter-finals of the Champions League after a long time away.”
“It won’t be easy at all,” Inzaghi stressed, “we will have to work to be ready for a two-legged tie in which the details will make the difference.”
“These will be two brilliant matches and we’ll be ready,” he concluded.