On the eve of the highly anticipated Milan derby, Inter manager Simone Inzaghi addressed the media in his pre-match press conference at Appiano Gentile. The coach discussed various topics, including player fitness, tactical preparations, and the challenges posed by the congested fixture list.
Inzaghi acknowledged the significance of the derby, describing it as a “highly anticipated match full of pitfalls” due to Milan’s quality players. He emphasized the need for his team to be more clinical in decisive moments, reflecting on their previous encounters with their city rivals.
Regarding player availability, Inzighi provided an update on Acerbi and Calhanoglu, who have recently returned to full training. While both players are in contention to contribute, Calhanoglu is more likely to start on the bench as he continues his recovery from recent fitness issues.
The Inter boss praised his team’s consistency since August, highlighting their achievement of reaching the Champions League quarter-finals. However, he expressed concerns about the upcoming fixture congestion, particularly the rescheduled match against Fiorentina.
Inzaghi revealed his surprise at the packed February schedule, stating, “We didn’t expect such a congested calendar. We were told that everyone in the League signed off on these dates.” He emphasized the challenge of providing adequate rest for his players while maintaining their competitive edge.
When questioned about the importance of the derby in the context of the Serie A title race, Inzaghi identified Napoli, Inter, and Atalanta as the current favorites but acknowledged that other teams could still mount a challenge with a string of victories.
The manager dismissed any lingering issues from previous encounters, including the controversial celebration by Porto’s coach Conceição, stating, “I’m not interested in what happened before. I’m focused on improving our on-field performance and reacting differently to challenges.”
Inzaghi concluded by addressing his team’s recent form, referencing Mkhitaryan’s comment about Inter being “unplayable.” He emphasized the importance of maintaining consistency and building on their strong performances to achieve sustained success throughout the season.
