Inter head coach Simone Inzaghi doesn’t feel that the situation with Milan Skriniar’s prospective contract extension is a worry or a distraction ahead of tomorrow’s match against Napoli in Serie A.
Speaking in a press conference, as reported by FCInterNews, the coach emphasized that the Slovakian remains as committed as ever to the Nerazzurri regardless of what is happening off the pitch.
Inter face league leaders Napoli tomorrow, and they do so amid a backdrop of uncertainty around Skriniar’s contract situation.
This could well lead to some worry that the 27-year-old would not be at his best for tomorrow’s match.
As far as the coach is concerned, however, Skriniar has always proved himself a committed professional who will do everything he can on the pitch to help Inter, and doesn’t expect this to change.
Asked if he is worried, Inzaghi replied “No, I know him, he’s an extraordinary person who always gives his all on the pitch, and he’s in love with Inter.”
“I have several players whose contracts are expiring, but I know that I have a strong club behind me that’s always working closely with me to try and reach the best possible conclusion in all these situations,” he added.
Asked how Romelu Lukaku has been after the World Cup, the coach replied that “He’s looked to be very well to me, the same with Lautaro, the Dutch players have also come back in good shape, de Vrij picked up a knock and Dumfries slowed down a bit, but they’re on track.”
He then added that “Onana is calm, and eager to get back in action.”
“There’s great enthusiasm and desire on everyone’s part to play tomorrow’s match.”
“We can’t wait to start again,” Inzaghi said, “we want to take the pitch, last season [against Napoli in November] it was an exciting match that gave us an impetus over the following months.”
“We know we’re facing a great team, who have been the only unbeaten team to date, but we’re doing so with great desire.”
As to whether he thinks tomorrow’s match will be do-or-die, Inzaghi feels that “There will be probably be more at stake for us, but part of the beauty of football is being able to play these kinds of matches.”
Of the availability of the forwards, the coach said that “I can say that finally after a long time we have four forwards available, I never had all of them fit at once in the year that just ended.”
“Lautaro returned four days ago but has trained well, Correa is looking better and better.”
Inzaghi noted that “Dzeko and Lukaku trained more with the team.”
“Regardless of tomorrow’s match I hope to have all four of them for this whole packed fixture list ahead of us.”
“For tomorrow I still have to make my decisions,” the coach added, “I have many selection doubts that I will decide upon over these next two training sessions.”
Asked whether he still believes that the Serie A title is a possibility, Inzaghi replied “Yes, there are 23 matches left to go, many points up for grabs, and Inter like all the teams chasing them have an intense desire to try and catch up to the team who are the best in Europe right now.”
“Congratulations are in order for them,” he said of the Partenopei, “for the coach, for the players, for the club, but we all have the hope of catching up.”
“It will all depend on what happens on the pitch, and we have extraordinary fans who will push us on, we want to win every match.”
Asked what he thinks a fit Romelu Lukaku can add to the team, Inzaghi said that “We know his qualities, he’s back with a great desire to sacrifice, he picked up an unfortunate injury just a few matches into the season but now he’s back and can give us a different dimension in attack.”
“We had the best attack last year,” the coach noted, “we’re now second, my teams have never had trouble finding the back of the net but I hope he can help us score even more, same with Correa.”
Of his tactical approach for tomorrow’s match, Inzaghi said that “Each match is unique, tomorrow is a very important one for our season, we know that Napoli have great individual players, there will be moments when we’ll be aggressive, and others less so.”
He predicted that “It will be a good match between two excellent teams, Napoli are showing the kind of form that hasn’t been seen before.”
Of the effect of the long World Cup break on preparations, Inzaghi noted that “Such a long break is not something we’ve dealt with before.”
“We worked well,” he said of the team’s winter preparations, “the guys have given it their all, whoever arrived late from the World Cup is catching up.”
“Not everyone can be expected to be in perfect condition, but I’m satisfied with everyone,” he added.
Asked if he thinks this Napoli team have any weak points, Inzaghi replied that “They’re showing an extraordinary level, a very strong team that has lost some players and brought in players who’ve given them something different.”
“Great credit is due to them, but we’re Inter and we’ll face them with great hunger,” he went on.
“Last season they were very strong as well, and we always kept pace with them.”
When it was pointed out that only one team has ever come back from an eleven-point gap to win the Scudetto, Inzaghi responded that “It’s not just us, all the teams chasing have a big gap to make up.”
“We have to do something extraordinary and Napoli will have to slow down at some point, but the guys are working well so I’m confident.”
As far as any Christmas gifts from the club directors in the transfer market, Inzaghi said that “The directors are always working closely with me and they’re always working and keeping their eyes open.”
“We know the moment that Italian football is going through,” he added, “but they’ll be attentive to any opportunities, let’s see what happens.”
And as far as the appointment of Simone Sozza as the referee for the match, Inzaghi simply said that “It will be a great day when we no longer have to talk about which referee has been appointed to our match.”
