Inter midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu expects that the away leg of their Champions League round of sixteen tie against Porto will be a massively difficult and demanding encounter after winning the first leg by the narrowest of margins.
Speaking to Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia, via FCInterNews, the 29-year-old also made clear that striker Romelu Lukaku has the trust of the team and that he just needs to keep building his confidence.
Inter will take an advantage to Portugal in the second leg of their tie against Porto, but only the slenderest one they can.
A goal late on was enough for the Nerazzurri to win on the night, but they will be well aware of how much can change with an entire ninety minutes of football to be played at a difficult away ground.
For his part, Calhanoglu feels that he is prepared for what is to come in Porto, however.
“In the Champions League you always suffer because the opposition are top quality,” the Turk reflected.
“We deserved the win, considering we created so many chances,” he added, “I’m happy for Romelu who needs confidence.”
“Getting Lukaku at his best is essential, everyone knows that,” Calhanoglu continued, “his enthusiasm and his quality always give us a lot.”
“Now we have the return leg in Porto which will be even more difficult, it will be a war as it was in Barcelona.”
Asked where he considers to be his best position, Calhanoglu answered “Wherever the coach puts me, I always want to do justice to the shirt.”
“We’re in the Champions League and we always want to win,” he added.
And of the spat between teammates Andre Onana and Edin Dzeko during the match, the 29-year-old made clear that “That’s all finished, there was nothing to it, pure adrenaline.”