MILANO, Italy – April 16: Bayern Munich’s Michael Oris will take on the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 quarter FC Internazionale Milano and FC Bayern München in San Silo in Milan, Italy on April 16, 2025, following a challenge from FC Internazionale Alessandro Bastoni. (Photo: Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Alessandro Bastoni feels that Champions League semi-finals are “personally stronger” than Inter, but Nerazzuri claims that “if you defend as a team, you can defeat any opponent.
Inter played in the second Champions League semi-finals in three seasons, winning Bayern Munich 4-3 in the quarter-finals.
Nerazzurri star Bastoni has announced an interview with La Gazzetta Dello Sport explaining his emotions after his second match on Wednesday.
“The adrenaline was passing through the roof, but these sleepless nights are happy,” the defender said.
“I didn’t dream very often. The reality is already beautiful enough.
“It was one of the top five nights I had at Inter. Before the game, everyone thought Bayern would qualify easily.
“We always believed we would make it. We had a fire to prove to a world that never happened to get there. We stepped onto the pitch with this idea.
“No one has pushed us against us in recent years like Bayern, but we came out strong on both feet, causing problems for an extraordinary team,” he continued.
“We have a desire to struggle together, including forwards, and at the same time we play good football.”
Bastoni has already lost the Champions League final against Manchester City in 2023, and feels that his desire for red has given him a great boost to the rest of the team.
“Yes. Our careers aren’t endless, and who knows how likely we are to play another Champions League semi-final, and that’s an opportunity we have to take,” he said.
“We want to feel the emotions of Istanbul again. This time on the other side we will do whatever we can to make it happen. People are beginning to take this for granted, but they’re not common to go so far. We’ve been working non-stop for four years.
Inter will face Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals, with Arsenal and PSG meeting on the other side of the bracket.
“Individually, we’re not as strong as the other three semi-finalists, but as a team, we can beat one of them,” Bastoni is confident.
“That also works the other way around. If we stop working together, we risk sinking.”
Inter already scored highs under Jose Mourinho in 2010, and Bastoni sees a common feature between its team and this Interside.
“It’s the willingness to suffer that brings us together. I remember Samuel Etou chasing us as a fullback. Now Sam and Lautaro are doing the same thing,” he insisted.
“We have the same ability to gather in tough moments and attack at the right time.”
How is he preparing to face Barcelona’s Starramine Yamal?
“I don’t know because last time it didn’t work very well with the Euro. Barcelona has a clear identity and may leave space, but we have to protect as a team against them,” Bastoni replied.
“We’re already facing top wingers. At the league stage, Oris and Sane with Bayern and Arsenal need 100% focus and 100% fitness if they want to cause problems.
“Potentially, I was able to finish second in all three competitions, but at the beginning of the season, I became the table leader and made it to the Coppa Italia and the Champions League semi-finals. I feel exhausted, but like I said at the beginning of the year, I want to go for everything.”
Antonio Conte’s Napoli is the only enemy in Serie A, sitting 3 points behind Nerazzuri, second at the table. There is no other competition to play in Naples, so you might consider the packed Inter schedule as a small advantage.
“Do you think he (Conte) was celebrating at Piazza Duomo?” Bastoni laughed.
“I’m kidding, I’m doing what he has to do, even the way he communicates. Perhaps he’s trying to stay under the radar to put us under pressure, but we’re calm about it.
Finally, the Italian defender praised his coach, Simone Inzagi.
“He’s really one of us. When you see him coming on the pitch that screams, you see a strong signal that helps us. He shows it every day in training. His passion and grit is contagious.
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