Inter defender Matteo Darmian feels that simply seeing out the result will not be enough for the Nerazzurri against Benfica in the Champions League tomorrow.
Speaking to InterTV ahead of the quarterfinal second leg clash, via FCInterNews, the 33-year-old predicted that much more will be needed than just hanging on to the result despite the fact that the Nerazzurri head into the match with a two-goal advantage.
Inter won the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal tie against Benfica 2-0 in Lisbon, giving themselves a big boost ahead of the second leg.
However, tomorrow at the San Siro will be an entirely separate match, and the Lisbon-based side will come to the stadium ready to throw everything at Inter to try and get themselves back into the tie.
Accordingly, the Nerazzurri cannot just think about sitting back and slowing the match down, but will also have to be proactive or else risk becoming too complacent and allowing the Portuguese league leaders back into proceedings.
From the perspective of Darmian, the key will be to think of it not as a match that’s already half-won, but as an entirely new match.
“Just seeing out the result won’t be enough and it would be a mistake if we did that,” he argued.
“We’ll have to take to the pitch with the right attitude and the right concentration as we did a week ago,” he continued, “it will be difficult but we’ll be ready.”
“Defensive solidity is certainly an important aspect, but that depends on the work of the entire team.”
“We’ll have to be careful not to allow Benfica too many chances.”
“I don’t know how they’ll line up,” he said of the Portuguese team, “maybe they’ll try to be more attacking.”
“We we’ll have to defend and then score the goals that can win us the match,” he said.