Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi stated on Monday that his club is not intimidated by Manchester City as he prepares his squad to compete in the final of the Champions League against the mega-rich, treble-seeking organization.
Inter will compete in their first Champions League final since they last won the tournament 13 years ago. However, City is a big favorite to win the championship for the very first time and become the kings of Europe. The final will be held in Istanbul.
City, led by Pep Guardiola, are in the final of the Champions League for the second time in three years. They enter Saturday’s match having eliminated Real Madrid from the competition in the semifinals, as well as having won the Premier League and the FA Cup.
“We’re talking about a football match, there’s no fear,” Inzaghi said to the press.
“We have a lot of respect, but at the same time, we’re proud to play in this final because we’ve worked so hard to get here,”
Inter will have to defend against a formidable City assault that will be headed by striker Erling Haaland. Haaland has already scored 12 goals in Europe this season, ensuring that he will finish atop the scoring statistics for the competition regardless of what happens in Turkey.
Alessandro Bastoni is one of Inter’s three central defenders, and he will be entrusted with keeping an eye on Haaland. When asked how he felt about the possibility of going head-to-head with the big Norwegian, Bastoni responded that he was unconcerned.
You should be afraid of those who kill people, not football players. He stated that discussing fear was inappropriate and that doing so would be a mistake.
“This is not a matchup between Haaland and Inter. It will be a match between Manchester City and Inter.
There is no fear, yet there is an appropriate amount of stress. Happiness is the most important thing in the world… I’ve been itching to go back out on the field.”
In addition, Inzaghi stated that he has not yet made a decision on who would play with Lautaro Martinez in Inter’s attack, as he is now debating whether or not to start the seasoned Edin Dzeko or the player who is currently in good form Romelu Lukaku.
Since April, Belgian striker Lukaku has completely turned around the course of his season and is once again playing like the all-action center forward who won the Serie A title and the hearts of Inter supporters two years ago.
Lukaku has scored seven goals and set up five more in his previous 11 outings, a run that might see him start for Inter in Istanbul despite the fact that former City forward Dzeko is Inzaghi’s normal starting striker. Lukaku has set up five more goals in his 11 matches.
“I haven’t made up my mind whether I want to play in attack, in the middle, or in defense because right now, like I have for the past two months or so, I have the opportunity to choose. According to Inzaghi, that is the nicest thing that can happen to a coach.
“We still have four training sessions before we head to Istanbul… if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that coaches have doubts right up until the final minute.”