Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi is very happy with his team’s intensity in the second half of their Champions League win over Benfica.
Speaking to InterTV, via FCInterNews, the coach reacted to the 1-0 group stage victory.
Inter did not get off to the most convincing of starts in this evening’s match against Benfica. The Nerazzurri started fairly slowly and failed to really impose themselves on the match.
Then as the first half wore on, the signs of life started to appear. After the teams emerged from halftime, however, Inter immediately looked like a more proactive team.
The Nerazzurri threw men forward and moved the ball around at pace. This resulted in a number of good goalscoring chances. In truth, Inter could’ve had more goals than their 1-0 margin of victory suggests.
It was a night-and-day difference from the sluggish display that Inter had put in in their group stage opener away to Real Sociedad last month.
Simone Inzaghi Hails “Incredible Intensity” Of Inter Display Vs Benfica
“The first half was relatively balanced,” Inter coach Inzaghi said after the match.
“We still created two or three situations where we could’ve taken the lead,” he added.
The coach then noted that “In the second half the guys showed incredible intensity, and it seemed like we could have scored every time we got forward. And this was against a great team in Benfica.”
Of the impressive performances by Benjamin Pavard and Alessandro Bastoni, Inzaghi said that “They’re playing their roles in the best way. They had great games.”
“But everyone helped each other out. I’m very satisfied with the team.”
Of Inter’s group as a whole, Inzaghi said that “With Real Sociedad from pot four I knew it would be balanced.”
“Benfica were drawn from pot one and are now on zero points,” he noted. “But they’re a great team that will have time to recover.”
“Now we’re thinking about the league again because we’ll be back on the pitch again in 72 hours. And then we can think about the Champions League again.”
