Inter Milan Manager Simone Inzaghi Confident Ahead of Champions League Clash with Barcelona
Simone Inzaghi, the manager of Inter Milan, has expressed his respect for Barcelona ahead of their Champions League semi-final first leg clash but maintains that his team will not be intimidated by the Spanish giants.
Inter Milan is facing Barcelona following a series of setbacks, having lost their last three matches and missing out on the opportunity to secure a treble. On the other hand, Barcelona is on track to achieve a historic quadruple after already clinching two trophies this season.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Inzaghi acknowledged Barcelona’s impressive statistics and recent successes but emphasized that his team is not afraid of the challenge. He stated, “We have enormous respect for Barcelona—they’ve got incredible stats, already lifted two titles, and are competing for two more. But we’re not afraid. We’ve earned our place here, and we want to keep going.”
Despite their recent struggles, including defeats in Serie A and elimination from the Coppa Italia by AC Milan, Inzaghi remains positive about the progress Inter Milan has made under his leadership since 2021.
Addressing the recent setbacks, Inzaghi reassured fans by stating, “Last week was a tough one, but it doesn’t cancel out everything we’ve built. The commitment and spirit from the squad can’t be questioned—they’ve given everything.”
Key forward Marcus Thuram has been absent from the team due to a thigh injury, but there is optimism that he may be available for the Barcelona match. Inzaghi mentioned, “We hoped to have Thuram back against Roma, but that didn’t happen. We’ll make a final decision based on how he feels on the morning of the match.”
With Benjamin Pavard sidelined with an ankle problem, Inzaghi confirmed that Federico Dimarco and Denzel Dumfries are both fit to play alongside Lautaro Martinez in attack.
Inter Milan, who last won the Champions League in 2010 and were runners-up in 2023, are determined to make a strong statement against Barcelona in their upcoming clash.
