Simone Inzaghi believes Inter need cool heads and warm hearts as they prepare for their Champions League semi final against Milan. The Nerazzurri were rampant in the first leg, scoring two goals in the opening 11 minutes and had a penalty denied just moments later. Ahead of the second-leg on Tuesday, Inzaghi explained the importance of being able to rotate his strike-force but hinted at being unhappy with the decision to French referee Clément Turpin:
What made the difference in your path?
“At the draws in August there was a bit of disappointment. We had not been very lucky but I just told the staff and players that probably even Barcelona and Bayern were not very happy to have us from the third bracket. We have come this far and we know we have a very important step now.”
What will be needed for tomorrow’s game, which is the most important of your careers?
“I already said this before Benfica, but tomorrow we have to be together. About the fans, I have no doubts because they have always been with us. As for us, we will need cool heads and warm hearts. That’s the only way to interpret a match like tomorrow’s at its best.”
How are Martinez and Correa?
“Correa asked for a change, otherwise I would not have changed him. He was impressing me, let’s hope it’s nothing serious. The feeling is good, we will evaluate to bring him tomorrow night. He should make it but I have no certainty. Lautaro is in a very good moment. He is alternating with the other strikers.”
What is the difference between the eve of the first leg and this one?
“It is one of the most important matches. We know what it means, we will have to interpret it as best we can. We know we have a deserved advantage but we will not have to manage and we will need an Inter game.”
What work have you done with Lukaku?
“You know what he can do. As a coach I had brought Lukaku back here with enthusiasm to see him as we are seeing him this month. Unfortunately he and Brozovic had setbacks and we didn’t have them all season. We had to suffer, in certain moments we were very good without them. However, we know that even in this condition Lukaku perhaps cannot make three games in a row in a week.”
How do you handle a wounded beast like Milan and what do you think of the refereeing in the first leg?
“There was an episode that should have been evaluated in another way, Krunic’s foul on Bastoni. It would have given us something very important as a result. There is no problem at all. Similarly there is not for Turpin who is French and there are four Frenchmen in Milan. For management, we know we have to overcome pitfalls and we have to come out in the best way.”
