Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi anticipates that tomorrow’s Champions League clash with Real Sociedad could be very important for the round of sixteen draw.
Speaking in a press conference ahead of the match, as reported by FCInterNews, the Nerazzurri coach also praised Hakan Calhanoglu and updated on the fitness of Benjamin Pavard.
In just a little over 24 hours, Inter will take on Real Sociedad in the Champions League.
It will be both teams’ last group stage match for the season.
The pair faced off a few months ago in the group stage opener. That match had ended in a 1-1 draw.
And considering both Inter and La Real have identical records since that match, tomorrow’s match will be essentially a straight playoff for top spot in the group.
Finishing top of the group could give either team an advantage in terms of the round of sixteen draw.
For Inter, it would mean avoiding teams like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, and Manchester City in the next round.
Inzaghi On Importance Of Real Sociedad Clash
The Inter coach said that a win tomorrow would bring “A lot of confidence and great prestige for the club.”
“It would also be very important to theoretically have an easier draw for the next round.”
“We know that the Champions League is always difficult,” he noted. “But we would like to finish top of the group.”
Of the group stage as a whole Inzaghi remarked that “There was talk of an easy draw, but we were good in the first five matches.”
“Real Sociedad, who we play for top spot tomorrow, were the team we drew from the fourth pot.”
“We did well in making the draw look easier than it really was,” he added.
And of his tenure as Inter coach, Inzaghi said that “The goal of every coach is to have long cycles at clubs.”
“I had one at Lazio, and my hope is to stay here as long as possible,” Inzaghi noted.
“But then there’s what happens on the pitch. And we know how coaches are judged every week.”
Possibility Of Juan Cuadrado Starting, Thoughts On Squad Rotation
Inzaghi also spoke about the possibility of some changes to the starting eleven for tomorrow’s match.
“As far as Cuadrado I’m evaluating the possibility,” the coach noted. “I don’t have much choice.”
“I think probably two out of he, Bisseck, and Darmian will start.”
“I know that Darmian and Bisseck played ninety minutes on the weekend and Cuadrado just played 25,” the coach noted.
“But he’s still dealing with a fitness issue that he hasn’t fully gotten past.”
“Tomorrow I’ll evaluate right before the match.”
And as far as squad rotation tomorrow, Inzaghi said that “I will make some changes, as I always have, regardless of Real Sociedad.”
“We have some important players missing,” he noted. “I still have to see what things look like in this morning’s training.”
“We worked on video analysis sessions, and on the pitch.”
“But I wouldn’t talk about rotation,” Inzaghi emphasized. “More about make changes, as I’ve always done.”
“Maybe in a more blatant way in Lisbon, sure. Because we could afford to and I knew I’d get a great response from the guys.”
“We started that match badly, but then we got back into the match with a great performance.”
On Calhanoglu, Pavard’s Fitness
Inzaghi gave his thoughts on the development of 29-year-old former AC Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu as Inter’s regista since his arrival in 2021.
“I had become coach of Inter,” the coach looked back.
“And when it became clear that there would be a big issue for Eriksen, I called Marotta and Ausilio, because I knew [Calhanoglu] was reportedly not staying at Milan.”
“They told me that they had already been in contact with him,” he noted.
“The quality of the player was something we all understood well.”
“We signed him as a mezzala, there’s no denying that,” Inzaghi said of Calhanoglu.
“Then Brozovic had some injury problems last seasons. So we tried him out in his role in training.”
“The first match there was the litmus test,” he noted. “He has great characteristics as a deep-lying playmaker. He’s a top player.”
And Inzaghi also spoke about the fitness of defender Benjamin Pavard.
“He passed his test on Saturday,” the coach said. He was referring to the fact that the former Bayern Munich defender was able to run onto the pitch to celebrate with his teammates without issue.
“So I think that he can be available soon,” he said of Pavard.
