Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi has responded to remarks from Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola and Juventus counterpart Max Allegri.
Speaing in a press conference after yesterday’s win over Atalanta, as reported by FCInterNews, the coach admitted that the City coach’s praise makes him happy, whilst he gave a “no comment” to predictions by the Bianconeri boss that Inter would finish sixth this season.
Inzaghi has guidned Inter to qualification for next season’s Champions League.
A top four spot is now mathematically secure following a 3-2 win over La Dea yesterday.
This is not at all what Allegri had predicted last month. In a meltdown after losing a Coppa Italia semifinal second leg to Inter, the Juventus coach declared that the Nerazzurri would finish sixth in Serie A.
Inter were in fact sixth in the table at the time of the Bianconeri coach’s comments. However, they have clawed their way back up the table in the past few matches.
Meanwhile, in the Champions League, Inter will face Guardiola’s City next month.
This comes after an heroic campaign in the knockout rounds which has seen them get past Porto, Benfica, and AC Milan.
Inter Coach Inzaghi Responds To Guardiola & Allegri
Of the complimentary remarks from City coach Guardiola, Inzaghi said that “That makes me happy, coming from him.”
“We know City are the strongest team in the world,” the 47-year-old continued. “They have the best coach in the world.”
He then went on that “We’ll prepare for the final in the best way possible. We’ll play for it with the qualities that brought us to Istanbul.”
Regarding Allegri’s alleged remarks, the Inter coach played it much closer to his chest.
“I haven’t even heard them,” he said. “I don’t feel like responding.”
“I haven’t listened to much,” Inzaghi said of criticism. “My players give me energy with how hard they work every day.”
“We’ve hard to work a lot.” the coach continued. “In the past two and a half months we’ve had a lot of work to do because we’ve slipped up in the league causing us to drop points.”
“But we’ve done well to make up for the gap,” he added.
Inzaghi argued that “Inter have a duty to participate in the Champions League, we know what this club represents.”
Inzaghi Thanks San Siro For Constant Support
Of the almost two million total spectators at the San Siro for Inter matches this season, Inzaghi said that “This was a wonderful evening like so many others.”
“Tonight was the last in front of our fans, after winning a trophy won that we weren’t even able to fully enjoy because we had this hugely important match on the horizon.”
“I have to give a big hug to all the guys, how tired must they have been, and yet they found energy that even I didn’t think they had,” he added.
Inter Coach On What Romelu Lukaku Gives The Team Tactically
Inzaghi was then asked about what striker Romelu Lukaku gives Inter tactically.
“Playing the ball vertically as soon as we win it back is certainly something I like to see,” he said.
The coach then noted that “The defensive line depends on the opponents, on the particular match strategy. Sometimes you hold a higher line, other times less so.”
The Inter coach was also asked about whether he’ll rotate the team against Torino next weekend in view of the Champions League final.
“We’ll see how the guys are doing for the moment,” he said.
“My staff have done well in managing the playing time,” he noted. “We have the tools to understand how the guys recover.”
“Some players have more minutes, I’m thinking of the forwards and midfielders,” Inaghi continued.
“For Torino, I’ll evaluate who’s suitable to play,” he added.
