Simone Inzaghi says Inter Milan “don’t have time” for the match between Bologna and Napoli ahead of their own clash with Bayern Munich.
The Nerazzurri coach spoke in a press conference ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League quarterfinal first leg, as reported by FCInterNews. He emphasized not being distracted by Serie A.
Inter Milan face Bayern Munich in the Champions League tomorrow evening.
The quarterfinal first leg clash promises to be a pivotal match in the context of Inter’s season.
But at the same time, the Nerazzurri have various other commitments to think about.
In Serie A, Inter dropped points against Parma over the weekend. That underlined just how close the title race is, and how tough it is going to be to hold on to their advantage over Napoli.
Naturally, therefore, Inter are hoping that Napoli will also slip up.
Any dropped points from the Partenopei would be a massive boost for Inter, of course.
However, all of that is out of Inter’s control. And at the moment, the Nerazzurri have bigger fish to fry.
Inzaghi Insists Inter Milan “Don’t Have Time” For Bologna Vs Napoli Clash Ahead Of Bayern Showdown
Napoli’s match away to Bologna this evening feels even more important after Inter dropped points in their own outing in Emilia-Romagna on Saturday.
And Nerazzurri coach Simone Inzaghi is anticipating that “it will be a great match.”
Ahead of the Bayern clash Inter coach Inzaghi called Bologna and Napoli “two teams that play great football.”
“But we don’t have time to focus on things that we can’t have any effect on.”
“Our focus is only on Bayern Munich” Inter coach Inzaghi said ahead of Bologna hosting Napoli in the Serie A.
“And then on the league, and then back to the Champions League.
“We have our destiny in our own control,” Inzaghi said.
“So let’s focus on our strengths.”
Meanwhile, the Inter coach said of the disappointing draw with Parma that “we know the journey we’re on.”
“We know what happened in the last match. We’re not happy with the result.”
Inzaghi admitted that “unfortunately in the second half, we allowed a comeback.”
“And now tomorrow we have a massive match against a very strong team,” he continued.
The Inter coach called Bayern “the favourites to win the whole competition, along with Real Madrid.”
“The guys know what we’ve done to be here,” said Inzaghi.
“We’ll try to do our best.”
“Both of the teams have a lot of players missing. We’ll have to be a team.”
Bastoni “More Yes Than No” & Dimarco “More No Than Yes”
Then, Inzaghi gave an update on the fitness of two key players ahead of tomorrow’s match.
“Bastoni is more yes than no,” said the Inter coach. “And Dimarco is more no than yes.”
Inzaghi also noted that “Calhanoglu took a knock” in Inter’s draw with Parma on Saturday.
The Inter coach admitted that “we wanted to win in Parma and we know it.”
“It’s a point that hurts us,” he went on. “It’s a big disappointment.”
“We analyzed that match. And now we have to face tomorrow night’s match.”
Bayern “Intense” & “Unplayable” But Inter “Have Grown”
Inzaghi then commented on Inter’s opponents tomorrow evening. “I’ve always found Bayern intense,” he said.
“Even when I faced them with Lazio in 2020.”
“They’re a very intense team, and have great players.”
“They have some big players missing, like we do,” the Inter coach continued.
“There will be moments when we’ll have to suffer,” he anticipated. “And then others when we make things difficult for them.”
Meanwhile, Inzaghi commented on his having called Bayern “unplayable” two years ago when Inter faced them.
The Nerazzurri lost both group stage matches that season.
“We’ve certainly grown,” Inzaghi said. “But the gap in budget is clear between us, and then Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.”
“But let’s not focus on that. Let’s focus on the pitch, and over the first eight matches of the league phase, we actually did better than them.”
Inzaghi said Bayern “have experienced players, and a strong counterattack.”
The Inter coach also had praise for his Bayern opposite number Vincent Kompany. “They have a great coach who’s doing brilliant things,” he said.
Thomas Muller “A World-Class Player” & Musiala “A Top Talent – But Bayern Have Other Players”
Then, Inzaghi commented on the fact that Thomas Muller is expected to start for Bayern tomorrow.
He called the 35-year-old “a great player.”
“Out of all the currently actively players, he’s the one to have won the most trophies.”
“I respect him a lot,” Inzaghi said of the Bayern and Germany legend. “He’s a world-class player.”
“Tomorrow I will be coming up against him for the fifth time, and he’s always caused problems for me.”
Meanwhile, the reason that Muller is likely to start tomorrow is that Bayern will be without Jamal Musiala due to injury.
Musiala’s absence is certainly expected to be a major blow for the Bavarians.
“He’s among the top talents in the world,” Inzaghi said of the German international. “But the fact that Bayern also have Muller and Gnabry says a lot about their strength.”
Inzaghi “Proud Of What We’ve Done” At Inter – Adds “We’re Outdoing Ourselves”
Inter coach Simone Inzaghi then took stock of his four seasons at the club.
“For four years we’ve never thought about anything else,” he commented. “We’ve won six trophies, and could’ve had eight with the Scudetto and the Champions League.”
“I’m proud of what we’ve done. And of what we’re doing this season.”
“We’re outdoing ourselves,” Inzaghi went on to say.
“That’s why I say the guys deserve applause more than ever.”
“We only talk about the players Bayern are missing. But we have five players who had to stay behind in Milan.”
“We’re working hard. We’re moving forward knowing that tomorrow we have a huge obstacle in front of us.”
But Inzaghi insisted Inter “will face it with great confidence.”
And the Nerazzurri coach admitted that it’s “very difficult to compete” with the budget of an Italian club.
“It wasn’t easy for us to stay competitive like we did,”
Inzaghi noted that “we had to reduce the budget.”
“But Inter have always stayed at the top. Thanks to the player, and great club directors.”
“Starting with the club President Marotta,” Inzaghi said. “And then going through Ausilio, Baccin, and Zanetti.”
“And we shouldn’t forget [former Inter Peresident Steven] Zhang, and now Oaktree,” he added.
Inzaghi said that the success while improving the financial situation “is like another trophy.”
“It’s a great source of pride for the club,” he beamed.