Simone Inzagi claims Inter Milan “believes” ahead of the Champions League showdown with Barcelona.
Nerazzurri’s coach spoke at a press conference ahead of the clash in the second semi-finals, as reported by FCINTERNEWSW. He also provided Lautaro Martinez and Benjamin Pavad’s fitness updates.
Inter Milan will face Barcelona in the Champions League tomorrow evening.
This will be a game that could define a season for both the two teams.
Inter have a real chance to reach the final of European top club competition for the second time in just three years.
And after finishing with a 3-3 draw last Wednesday, there’s everything to play for everything.
Inzagi says Inter Milan “believe” ahead of Champions League clash vs Barcelona
Inter Milan coach Simone Inzagi gave him his thoughts ahead of today’s match.
“We all know how important this game is,” he said. “And we all have to play together.”
“Behind us and as a group.”
Inzagi admitted that “Barcelona is a strong team.”
“We’ve seen a lot of videos of them, and it requires great inter-performance.”
Coach Inter then insisted that “the group believes that.”
“They want that, and they’re waiting for a match against the right kind of tension.”
Inzagi said, “Balka has 81% of the league and 76% in the Champions League.”
“They don’t change much. In defense, they take risks, but risks are often calculated by flicks. I admire flicks.”
“They are still running for three trophies,” Inzagi said of Barcelona. “When you face them, you need great inter-performance.”
Lautaro & Pavard fitness updates
Inzagi later provided an update on the two most notable fitness status of Inter’s two questionable fitness. This is Lauther Roman Martinez and defender Benjamin Prabbad.
“As for Lautaro and Pavad, we’ll decide on the coaching staff and players.”
“For Pavad, yesterday, emotions were positive, and today we will see how Lautaro is doing.”
Inzagi said Martinez “has not been training from the first leg.”
Meanwhile, Inzagi said, “We had a great match in the first leg, but we could have done better.”
“We could have played more on the ball, even if they’re very good at counterattacking.”
“Tomorrow will be like the final,” Inzagi added. “There will be winners. They will probably go for extra time and even penalties.”
Inzagi added that he is confident “due to the way the team trained yesterday.”
“It was clear that we were going to win the match against Verona, but we were on a two-day holiday since we were faced with Barcelona.”
“I saw the physical and mental effort from the team,” Inter said.
“I trained yesterday,” Inzagi added. “Everyone is giving me everything, even those who played against Verona the day before.”
“I have nothing to say about the jobs guys are putting in,” Inter said.
Inzagi admits his ultimate defeat to Man City in 2023 “still with us.”
Meanwhile, Intercoach Inza spoke about his final Champions League defeat in 2023 against Manchester City. “That idea is still with us,” he said.
“It was a tough night to digest. We had a great match.”
“But we live in the present,” Inzagi said.
“That match is part of a journey we’ve been through over the past four years, but we want to continue.”
“We’re two matches away from the possible trophies.”
“These are exciting matches. The title and records are great and what you work for.”
Inzagi said that making history would “repay” the work Intel did to get here.
“It wasn’t given to me,” continued the Nerazuri coach. “At the beginning of the season, every team is trying to win everything through work, not through grace.”
“We didn’t make any choice or compete in any particular competition,” the coach insisted. “This team wants to make our fans happy, who have never failed to give us support.”
Inzagi: Decided tomorrow on whether Lautaro will start
Coach Inter then thought about whether Lautaro Martinez would play from the bench from the start or tomorrow evening.
“It depends on how he feels,” Inzagi said.
“It’s difficult for players who can’t come in for the last 25 minutes and reach out to us,” the coach added.
“Today’s training session is extremely important to him and to Pavad.”
The latter pointed out, “Even Barcelona wasn’t with us. Lauty had to escape afterwards.”
“Like all teams, we’ve always had a lot of injuries. We’re just looking at the last two teams we’ve faced, including Barca and Bayern.”
“We have a well packed team,” Inzagi insisted. “I will try to make the right decision while I warm up tomorrow.”
“Always for Inter’s benefit,” the coach said.
Lewandowski Call-Up & Kounde Absent Inzaghi
Inzagi then commented on the fact that striker Robert Lewandowski has returned to the Barcelona team for tomorrow’s match. “We know him,” Inter said.
“He’s one of the three or four best strikers in the world.”
“Ferran Torres played on his first leg and he had a great game.”
“In their last five matches, they won without (Lewandowski),” Inzagi pointed out. “He’s the top striker, but Barca is just as strong.”
Coach Inter said Lewandowski is “a player we have to pay special attention to.”
“Like Yamal. And the other players they have.”
“They are one of the best in the world.”
Later, Barcelona defender Jules Kaunde was lost, and Inzagi said, “He’s a great player, but he was probably injured at the price to play more than 100 consecutive games.”
“On Sunday, another player played in that position and did well,” Inter said.
“Eric Garcia competed against us and it worked,” Inzagi added. “Barcelona has backups that are tailored to the task.
Inzagi: “We need to keep the ball away from Yamal.”
Coach Inter then said Barcelona’s defense against Wingerlamin Yamal was “very difficult.”
“We have to make sure he doesn’t get the ball, but that’s very difficult.”
“We’ll double down on him,” Inzagi added. “We’re going to keep an eye on him.”
“But like I said, I saw him alive on my first foot, and then I saw him alive, he was very dangerous.”
“What impressed me most was the speed of his thinking,” Inzagi said of Yamal. “As soon as he has the ball.”
“He’s a special player to watch, and so are the other people they have.”
“Tomorrow will be displayed” regardless of whether Dimarco will start
Inzagi then thought about whether Federico DiMarco and Carlos Augusto would start tomorrow.
“I’ll see it tomorrow,” Coach Inter said.
“They played together many times, so we’ll see.”
“It’s right to focus on (Raminyamal), but there are other players who can pose a danger,” Inzagi revealed.
“We’ll see if we can make some tactical changes,” Inzagi added. “But our system has been tried and tested.”
“This time I’m playing at home. But the numbers for Barcelona remain the same.”
Nerazzurri’s coach revealed that “we had a great match” in the first leg.
“But we could have done better. Like every game.”
“You win some and you lose some,” Inzagi revealed. “But when you want to win, you can think about it correctly and make it easier to analyze, improve and move forward.”
