Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi feels that the fact that Rade Krunic wasn’t sent off for AC Milan in Wednesday’s match was a potentially result-changing refereeing decision.
Speaking in a press conference ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League semifinal second leg against the Rossoneri, via FCInterNews, the 47-year-old weighed in on the fact that the Bosnian stayed on the pitch despite appearing to have struck Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni.
One of the talking points for Wednesday’s match was an incident between Krunic and Bastoni in the penalty area.
The Milan midfielder was marking the Inter defender during a Nerazzurri corner. At one point, Krunic appeared to punch his opposite number.
Whilst it was not the most forceful of strikes, it was gratuitous and looked like a clear punch. However, Spanish referee Jesus Gil Manzano didn’t send off the 29-year-old.
Moreover, Inter were not given a penalty, which presumably would have followed a Krunic red card given that the coming-together was in the area.
This decision by the official has been described as a “major error” after the match.
For Inter coach Inzaghi’s part, he feels that this could well be an important moment in the tie.
Simone Inzaghi: Rade Krunic Red Card Would’ve Changed Things
“There was an incident that should have been looked at differently,” Inzaghi said. “Krunic’s foul on Bastoni.”
“We would have gotten something different in terms of the result.”
Still, Inzaghi said that “There’s absolutely no problem.”
“By the same token, there’s no problem with Turpin being French, and fact that there are four French players in the Milan team,” he continued.
“As far as managing the game, we know there are potential pitfalls and that we have to get out of them in the best way,” he added.
Joaquin Correa Likely Fit For Inter Milan To Face AC Milan
Inzaghi also updated on the fitness of Inter forward Joaquin Correa for tomorrow’s match.
“Correa asked to be taken off,” he said of the Argentine, who was substituted at halftime against Sassuolo, with a minor injury. “Otherwise I wouldn’t have taken him off.”
“I was happy with his performance, let’s hope it’s nothing serious.”
“The feeling is positive,” he said of Correa’s fitness. “We’ll evaluate whether to call him up tomorrow night.”
“He should be ready but I’m not certain.”
Inzaghi also spoke about Correa’s countryman Lautaro Martinez. “Lautaro is having a great moment of form. However, he’s still rotating with the other forwards.”
Inzaghi Looks Back At Inter Milan’s Champions League Journey So Far
Looking back to the start of Inter’s Champions League campaign, Inzaghi admitted that “We had been a bit disappointed with the draw in August.”
Inter had been drawn into the “group of death” with European giants Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
“We weren’t very lucky to get that group, but with my players and staff I said that Barcelona and Bayern probably weren’t too pleased to have gotten us from the third pot of the draw.”
“We’ve come this far and we know that now we can take another massive step,” Inzaghi added.
Of what Inter need now, Inzaghi said that “I’d already said it before Benfica, but tomorrow we have to stick together.”
“I have no doubts about the fans because they’ve always been behind us.”
Inter Will Need “Cool Heads & Hot Hearts” Vs AC Milan
“As far as we’re concerned, we’ll need cool heads and a hot heart,” the coach said.
“That’s the only way to get the best out of a match like tomorrow.”
As for the difference between Wednesday’s first leg and tomorrow, Inzaghi said that “This is one of our most important matches.”
“We know what it means, we’ll have to interpret it in the best way possible.”
“We know we have a well-deserved advantage,” the coach said. “But we’re not just going to try and manage the match. We’re going to play a match worthy of Inter.”
Inzaghi Opens Up About Romelu Lukaku
The Inter coach was then asked about striker Romelu Lukaku. “You know what he’s capable of,” he replied.
“As a coach, I brought Lukaku back here, I was excited and hoped to get the player that we’ve seen this month,” the Nerazzurri coach said.
“Unfortunately, he and Brozovic had unexpected injury setbacks, and they weren’t available for us.”
“We had to suffer, although at times we were good even without them,” he said of how Inter coped with the injuries.
“But we know that even in his current condition, Lukaku perhaps can’t play three matches a week,” the coach said.
Inzaghi has been rotating Inter’s attack from match to match over the past few weeks. Edin Dzeko is likely to start tomorrow according to reports.
Criticism Never Got To Inter Milan Coach
Inzaghi was then asked about the criticism that he’s received throughout the season.
The coach and team have faced many doubts, speculations, and harsh criticisms during some bad spells in form over the campaign.
“I don’t read or listen to much but I understand everything,” Inzaghi said.
“Fortunately for me, we don’t pay attention to the criticisms too much,” he added.
As for selection decisions, Inzaghi said that “We know how it is with choosing the team. You see where so-and-so is playing from match to match.”
“You’re constantly having to make these choices,” Inzaghi said of his job as coach. “The job requires it.”
“As far as tomorrow, one always has ideas, but then you don’t really know which way the match is going to go.”
“The whole team has to cover the pitch as best as possible,” Inzaghi made clear. “We know that we’re facing a team who, regardless of whether they have Leao, have won the league and are in the Champions League final.”
“90 Minutes Away From A Dream”
Of what tomorrow’s match means to him on a personal level, Inzaghi said that “We’re ninety minutes from a dream. This has been the dream of all these guys, who I’ve been lucky to coach.”
“Thanks to them we’ve reached the Coppa Italia final.”
“We worked very well during the [World Cup] break, even though we had to do without players who were coming back from the World Cup.”
“Now, with so many matches so close together, it’s perhaps fortunate for us we didn’t have time to dwell on it, becaause give matches ago we looked far away from one of our basive objectives for the season [finishing top four in Serie A].”
“Now we still have to take the last step, but we’re focused on tomorrow,” Inzaghi added. “We know we’re really close. We’ll go for it.”
How Hakan Calhanoglu Was Transformed Into Top-Class Regista
Inzaghi also opened up about how Hakan Calhanoglu has become a high-level holding midfielder this season.
“Brozovic was out of the picture, and at that moment I thought he could be the best solution,” The coach said of Calhanoglu’s use in a deep-lying role.
“The player did very well,” he said of Calhanoglu. “The same with Darmian, playing on the side of a back three which he’d never done before.”
“I’m lucky to coach top-class players who can adapt,” Inzaghi said. “Luis Alberto did the same, he started as a winger and then became one of the top midfielders in Europe.”
Inzaghi: Everything Depends On Inter Milan Tomorrow
The Inter coach was then asked if he thinks the outcome of tomorrow’s match depends on how his team player.
“Absolutely, yes,” he replied.
“We know who we’re up against, but also that we’re in an excellent moment of form. We’re ready for a match of this level.”
Inzaghi noted that “We’ve already played against Benfica, even if it wasn’t a derby. But our advantage there was identical.”
The Sassuolo was tricky and we were good at overcoming them and winning.”
Inzaghi isn’t too worried about complacency creeping in tomorrow.
“This team is mature, serious,” he said.
“We know we haven’t done anything yet,” the coach stressed. “We aren’t going to try and manage the match, we’re going to play a match with intensity and determination.”
“I have great players who know how well we can play when we play our game,” Inzaghi said. “We’ll play the way we have in recent derbies, and over the past few months.”
