Inter head coach Simone Inzaghi feels that striker Romelu Lukaku has yet to really show what he can give to the Nerazzurri in his second stint at the club.

Speaking in a press conference ahead of the Supercoppa Italiana tomorrow evening, as reported by FCInterNews, the coach gave his thoughts on Lukaku and other important topics for Inter’s season.

Lukaku returned to Inter from Chelsea on loan during the summer in one of the most high-profile moves of the transfer window.

It would be an understatement to say that the Belgian’s performances on the pitch haven’t lived up to expectation.

For his part, however, Inzaghi is hopeful of getting Lukaku back to his best soon, something that’s yet to really be seen this season.

Asked about the 29-year-old’s condition ahead of tomorrow evening’s match, the coach said that “Yesterday he trained partially with the group.”

“The hope is that he can train without feeling any pain, something that wasn’t the case after the match against Parma.”

“Yesterday he completed a partial workout,” Inzaghi said of the striker, “we’ll see about today.”

“But if he doesn’t recover for tomorrow, we have hope that he’ll be ready to face Empoli.”

“We hope that he can train without feeling pain, he’s an added value for us but we haven’t been able to really use him yet,” the coach explained of Lukaku.

Looking to tomorrow’s match, Inzaghi said that “We know the importance of this match, and what’s more, it’s a derby in the final.”

“I read that this had only ever happened twice in history,” he said of facing the Rossoneri in a final.

“We’ll try to play a great match,” the coach continued, “it’s the first trophy on offer this season and we want to do well.”

Asked what he would see as the significance of winning tomorrow, Inzaghi said that “I consider it a trophy, not all teams are able to get to this point.”

“It’s the continuation of what we’ve already won last season,” he added, “we know what it represents.”

“We want to defend the trophy that we won last season.”

Beyond this, the coach noted that “The derby is special, we faced each other on several occasions last season.”

“They’re always matches that are decided by the individual episodes,” he continued.

“We lost this season without deserving to,” Inzaghi went on, “in the first half Milan were the better team, but Inter would’ve deserved it based on the second half.”

Asked if there’s any particular secret to the kinds of performances that Inter mustered against Napoli and Barcelona, Inzaghi replied that “It depends on the opponents you come up against.”

“So far I’m satisfied with how we’ve done in 2023,” he continued.

“We’ve had four matches, and we’ve won three and drawn one.”

“Apart from the late draw against Monza, we would’ve had a perfect run,” he noted.

Analyzing his team, Inzaghi noted that “Apart from a few errors and a few injuries, the team has always stayed in matches.”

“I’ve had my decisions limited by injury, particularly in midfield and in attack.”

Of facing off against Milan in the Supercoppa, Inzaghi noted that “A derby is always special, and even moreso if we can face them in a final.”

When it was pointed out that he could equal Marcello Lippi and Fabio Capello’s record of four Supercoppa wins with a win tomorrow, the coach replied that “I’ve been fortunate to play in a lot of finals in my career, both as a player and as a coach.”

“I’ve lost some but I’ve won more.”

“These are unique and self-contained matches, they have a lot of moments that the team will have to manage well.”

Inzaghi said that “My hope is that my team always stays in the game.”

“We know the kind of team Milan are, they have great quality, they can build play and counterattack, they’re a mature team who’re doing well in the league just as we are.”

“Unfortunately, Napoli are going at a pace that’s virtually never seen before,” he went on.

“Milan have also done well in the Champions League, and then they got knocked out of the Coppa Italia, which can happen when there are so many matches so close together.”

Of his selection at right-wingback, Inzaghi said that “Darmian is doing well, he’s a great resource for us, but Dumfries is also growing into his role, he’s overcoming the minor physical problem that he’s had after the World Cup.”

“I have some selection doubts that I’ll resolve as I always do,” the coach added.

And asked if he is getting tired of the criticism he receives in the media from former Rossoneri coach Arrigo Sacchi, Inzaghi replied that “Everyone must be able to express their opinions without issue.”

“In my opinion, it’s then up to the people directly concerned to know when to listen, and who to listen to,” he added.