Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi is staying tight-lipped regarding the controversy with striker Romelu Lukaku.
Speaking to Italian broadcaster DAZN, via FCInterNews, the coach didn’t take the bait on a question about the Belgian, stressing that he is only focused on the next match against Red Bull Salzburg.
The situation with Lukaku cast a dark cloud over Inter during the summer transfer window.
And that hasn’t gone away even after the end of the summer.
The sense of acrimony between the 30-year-old Chelsea-owned striker, currently on loan at Roma, and Inter all the way from the club to the fanbase remains.
Rumours of swirled that there had been something of a falling-out between Inzaghi and Lukaku. This could even have been part of the reason why the Belgian did not join Inter in the summer.
However, the coach is not too keen to stir up more controversy.
Inter Coach Simone Inzaghi Coy On Romelu Lukaku
Asked if he’s starting to think about Lukaku coming back to the San Siro Roma with San Siro next weekend, Inzaghi replied “I’m just thinking about Salzburg.”
“They’re a a team with a lot of running and intensity, and they’ve been together for several years,” he added. “So that’s what I’m thinking about.”
He predicted that the matches against the Austrian champions could be decisive. “They won away to Benfica. We’ll have two massive matches against them in next fifteen days.”
Inzaghi also looked ahead to tomorrow’s Serie A clash between AC Milan and Juventus. “I’ll be watching at home with my wife and kids,” the coach said. “I’m sure it’ll be a great match.”
And of the victory over Torino this evening, the coach said that “The guys did very well.”
“Coming up against Torino after just having one and a half training sessions wasn’t easy. But we played well in the first few minutes, then we started allowing spaces and lost our intensity, which made it tough against a team who play intense football.”
“I was very worried about this match. So I have to congratulate the guys on making sure our trip was a successful one.”
And the Inter coach explained why he took of Nicolo Barella.
“I’m sorry for Schuurs,” he said. The Dutch defender picked up an injury following a challenge with Barella.”
He called the Torino player “A very good footballer and person.” ”
“Nicolo probably didn’t deserve the yellow [that he got for the challenge on Schurrs,]” Inzaghi went on. “He was having a good match. but I decided to take him off.”
“I was undecided between him and Mkhitaryan, but I opted for him also because he was booked.”
“But he was having an excellent match,” the Inter coach made clear of Barella. “And I have to make choices altogether, during the week as well as during the match.”
