Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi says he did not pay much attention to Napoli losing this afternoon ahead of his team’s Serie A clash with Venezia.
The Nerazzurri coach spoke to Italian broadcaster DAZN, via FCInterNews. He made clear that his focus was on his own team’s preparations for this evening.
Napoli lost only their second match of the season this afternoon.
And like their opening day defeat against Hellas Verona, their loss to Atalanta was by a 0-3 scoreline.
This result hands a big opportunity to Inter. The Nerazzurri can get to within a single point of the league leaders if they are to beat Venezia – just ahead of next Sunday’s direct meeting.
But that will only matter of Inter are to actually take three points this evening.
And there is hardly a guarantee of that.
Venezia may have struggled for form for much of this season. They find themselves very much mired in the relegation scrap.
But at the same time, that’s just additional motivation for the Lagunari.
Therefore, Inzaghi will know perfectly well that his team can’t be complacent or assume that they’ve already reaped the benefits of Napoli’s loss earlier in the day.
Inzaghi Denies Having One Eye On Napoli Loss Ahead Of Venezia Showdown
Asked if he was following the Napoli result, Inter coach Inzaghi replied “No.”
“We focused on our training.”
“I just think about my team,” Inzaghi continued. “We look at the other teams’ results, but we just try to do the best with the players we have.”
As far as picking a strong team this evening rather than rotating ahead of matches against Arsenal and Napoli, Inzaghi said that “My only thought is this evening’s match.”
“The guys have all recovered quite well physically,” the Nerazzurri coach added.
“Then I made the best decisions for this match.”
“We as coaches always go with what we think is best. Then after the match it’s easy to say this or that, but I have to make my decisions, for the good of Inter.”
As far as the fitness of Hakan Calhanoglu and Kristjan Asllani, Inzaghi said that “They trained with the team.”
“But just not quite enough,” he said of why Calhanoglu doesn’t start this evening, and Asllani not being in the squad. “But the signs have been positive.”
“Zielinski can play as a regista,” Inzaghi added. “He’s generally played as a mezzala, but he’s an intelligent player.”
“We’ve had injuries to Asllani and Calhanoglu. So he and Barella have to give us a hand playing in a role that they’re capable of playing very well.”