Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi feels that the Nerazzurri could only get a narrow win over Juventus due to the heroics of Wojciech Szczesny.
The Nerazzurri coach spoke to Italian broadcaster DAZN, via FCInterNews, after the 1-0 Serie A win. He stressed that it’s just one win and not the title won by any means.
Inter certainly took a step in the direction of the Serie A title by beating Juventus this evening.
The Nerazzurri took three points off of the Bianconeri for the first time in Serie A for almost two years.
Considering that the two teams had been separated by just a point at the start of the match, it was a very significant result for Inter.
Particularly considering that the Nerazzurri still have a game in hand on their Derby d’Italia rivals.
It was not the most emphatic of wins. Inter had to dig deep and defend right until the final whistle.
But a 1-0 scoreline proved to be enough in the end. Inzaghi’s team have given themselves some breathing room at the top of the table.
Inzaghi: Narrow Win Vs Juventus, But Szczesny Kept Them In It
After the match, Inzaghi said that “We got a well-deserved win.”
“It was a fair result based on how we played and took to the pitch,” the coach went on.
“We’re happy, but there is still a long way to go,” he continued. “Milan and Juventus will not give up an inch.”
“It was a beautiful evening in front of our fans, who pushed us all the way. But there’s still a long way to go.”
As far as the narrowness of the scoreline, Inzaghi remarked that “Szczesny kept the game open. He made two incredible saves.”
Of Inter’s keeper, he said that “Sommer was always alert but had nothing to do.”
“These guys have done well over the last seven months. But we have to keep going, this is just one step for us.”
Inzaghi also explained why he decided to put Dutch midfielder Davy Klaassen as a substitute late on to see out the match.
“He’s a player who deserves more time on the pitch,” the Nerazzurri coach said of the former Everton and Ajax midfielder.
“He’s scored more than a hundred goals in his career. He’s an extraordinary guy.”
“In the warmups, Frattesi wasn’t feeling quite at his best,” Inzaghi noted.
“So I had [Klaassen] as well as Sensi, and then Asllani. But he hasn’t played as a mezzala for quite some time.”
Still “Four Intense Months” To Go
Asked if he feels that his Inter have become fully mature, Inzaghi said that “I’d agree with that.”
“But we know that there are still four intense months to go, and we have to keep going the way we have been.”
“We’ve won eighteen matches out of 22 in Serie A,” the Inter coach noted.
“But we’re still only four points ahead of Juventus. And Milan are still there behind us.”
“The other teams are keeping a very good pace. Last season Napoli were already much further ahead.”
And as far as the prospect of continuing this momentum in the Champions League, Inzaghi said that “That’s our goal.”
“We know that now the Champions League starts up again soon,” the Nerazzurri coach went on.
“This season we’ll once again throw everything we have to trying to give it a go again.”
“Bearing in mind that we face a very strong team in the round of sixteen,” Inzaghi said. Inter take on Atletico Madrid in the first leg of a round of sixteen tie later this month.
