Inter Milan will try to risk a visit to FC Porto on Tuesday to preserve the advantage obtained in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16, Nerazzurri coach Simone Inzaghi said today.
“We know that we are going to face a quality team in a very inflamed stadium. We saw in Italy that they are complete and strong in duels. In the best possible way, respecting the rival and, above all, looking closely at ourselves”. , observed the technician, at a press conference.
Three weeks after slipping in Milan (1-0), with a solitary goal by Belgian Romelu Lukaku, in the 86th minute, the ‘dragons’ will be able to force extra time with a tangential victory at home, and will go to the next phase of the competition if they win by more than one try.
“FC Porto has the same goal as us and a strong team, but we want to play to the best of our ability. What are the reasons to trust Inter Milan? The journalists already thought that we were lost, but we achieved a great classification, ”he recalled. , alluding to the vice-leadership of ‘poule’ C, just behind Bayern Munich, but above FC Barcelona and Viktoria Plzen.
The inconsistency has affected the season of Inter Milan, which has already suffered eight defeats as a visitor and fell in two of the last three days of the Italian League, against Bologna (0-1) and Spezia (1-2). , between a success in the reception to Lecce (2-0).
“I think losing playing like this in La Spezia [na sexta-feira] It can happen once every 500 games, but it happened and we licked our wounds. We know that we can take a big leap and be back in the top eight in Europe. For two years in a row, Inter have reached the ‘eighth’ position, something that hasn’t happened for a long time, but we want to go further. the second part [da eliminatória] it will be more stimulating and we will have to pay maximum attention, because the rival is used to these matches”, added the former striker.
The German Robin Gosens was absent from the squad due to injury, unlike the Slovakian Milan Skriniar, who has already recovered from the physical problems felt in the final stretch of the first leg, at a time when the coach of the Italian runner-up is under pressure .
“I don’t think I’ll ever answer those questions, especially on the eve of a ‘Champions’ match. I’ve been in football for many years and I know how this world works, as has been the case in recent months,” concluded Simone Inzaghi, sitting alongside midfielder Hakan Çalhanoglu.
Without wanting to remember the defeat against Spezia, the Turkish international wished the access of the current Serie A runner-up -with 50 points, 18 below the leader Napoli- to the “quarters” of the Champions League for the first time since 2010/11 , season following the title won at the Bernabéu (2-0 against Bayern Munich) under the command of José Mourinho.
“We know it’s going to be a very difficult game and I know the atmosphere [do estádio], because I have played here before, but my teammates are very focused. You have to put your heart into the field, but have a lot of head. We are prepared for all the provocations they can do. I say this with all due respect, but I know Portuguese football well and we have to be prepared for that. They will leave everything on the field to pass, “he shot.
Seeking to accompany Benfica in the quarterfinals of the 2022/23 Champions League, FC Porto will host Inter Milan on Tuesday, starting at 8:00 p.m., at the Estádio do Dragão, in Porto, for the second hand of the ‘eighths’, with the arbitration of the Pole Szymon Marciniak.
Source: TSF
