On the eve of the Champions League match against Arsenal, Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi answered questions from journalists at the customary press conference at Appiano Gentile.
When asked about what he needs to work on before two such important matches, Inzaghi replied, “We know what we’re working on. In the last few games, we’ve had seven wins and a draw. Let’s not forget that there are always opponents to compete against. In recent matches, I’ve complimented the team because they’ve done everything we practiced, with the only drawback being not closing out games earlier. We shouldn’t have reached the 97th minute at 1-0. But in Serie A, all teams can create problems, and now we know what to expect.”
Regarding Arnautovic’s condition, Inzaghi explained, “You would have seen him if Arnautovic hadn’t had an eye infection that’s struggling to heal. We’re evaluating for tomorrow; this morning he was feeling better than in recent days.”
On the possibility of rotation against Arsenal, Inzaghi said, “I’m thinking game by game, but we’ve had all the big matches right after Champions League games. It’s happened only to Inter. We’re making evaluations. In Empoli, we didn’t spend much energy due to numerical superiority, and against Venezia, I took advantage of that. On Sunday, we spent more, but this morning the guys had recovered quite well. I focused more on video analysis than field training.”
When asked about the new Champions League format, Inzaghi commented, “It’s much more difficult for us. Before, you had to prepare for three teams in a group, and it was all simpler, even for the players themselves. Now you have to think about 8 matches. It’s a more fascinating, more entertaining formula, but also more demanding and difficult.”
On the choice between a victory against Arsenal or Napoli, Inzaghi stated, “We need both. We’re playing against two very focused teams. Right now, the focus is on tomorrow’s game. Arsenal is a very recognizable team; if you see them among 100 other teams without knowing their name, you’d recognize them by their way of playing. That’s why they competed for the title point by point against City.”
Regarding the possibility of coaching in the Premier League, Inzaghi revealed, “It’s a very fascinating football that appeals to all coaches, and I don’t deny that there have been opportunities in recent years, not just now but also when I was at Lazio. I’m happy here; I’m at one of the best teams in Europe, but no one ever has certainties about the future.”
On Thuram’s performance, Inzaghi praised, “He’s working very well and must continue like this. Sunday I saw some unfair ratings for the game he played. It’s true he made some mistakes, but he played very well. He must continue to work this way; he’s a great added value for us and must continue with this growth.”
Finally, addressing Bastoni’s fitness, Inzaghi said, “If Bastoni recovers tomorrow, he plays, but today he wasn’t 100%, even though he’s very generous. He was a bit fatigued and told me he’ll be there tomorrow, but I have to make evaluations because on Sunday he came off with cramps at the 74th minute. As a coach, together with the staff, we’ll analyze the data to assess if Bastoni can play, but not thinking about Napoli.”
