Inter boss Inzaghi praises Milan’s ‘great players’ and responds to idea of derby ‘revenge’ | OneFootball

Inter boss Simone Inzaghi has given an injury update in view of tomorrow’s derby against AC Milan, while also responding to the idea of getting ‘revenge’.

Milan and Inter will face each other for the fourth time this season on Wednesday night under the lights of San Siro, with another game on the slate three weeks later given it is the first of a two-legged semi-final.

The Rossoneri have so far had the better of their city rivals in 2024-25 despite the fact they are ninth in the table. They won the first meeting in September, then beat the Nerazzurri in the Supercoppa Italiana final before drawing 1-1 in the most recent contest.

Inter boss Inzaghi is juggling the cup, Champions League and the Scudetto battle at moment while the Coppa Italia is pretty much all Milan can aim for. He spoke in a pre-match press conference at Appiano Gentile, with his words relayed by TMW.

The derby comes in a busy period. How important is it to have a group as united as yours?

“Tomorrow we know what kind of importance the game has, it’s a Coppa Italia semi-final against Milan. It’s a derby, there’s a great desire to play a great game, knowing that we’ll be facing a quality opponent, who this year has created a lot of problems, not just for us.”

What have the previous derbies taught you? Do you have a spirit of revenge?

“We know we had some difficulties this year, especially in the first. The other two were balanced, decided by episodes. Tomorrow will be the fourth, then there will be the fifth. Usually two are played.”

Will Sommer or Martinez play?

“I can’t help you with the lineup, I’ve chosen the goalkeeper but I haven’t told the players yet and I prefer to tell them first. Asllani won’t be there, Bastoni will return and we’ll have to evaluate De Vrij. Taremi won’t be there, we’re more or less the same as Sunday with Bastoni in and Asllani out.”

How do you manage the many matches?

“The goal was to get to April in the running for all competitions, we know that now comes the difficult part but it is a source of great pride to be in all competitions. They will take away a lot of physical and mental energy, but that is what we wanted. All the matches are important.”

How is Thuram? Is he to be managed?

“We didn’t need the setback that Taremi had, playing his second match with his national team. Without Lautaro tomorrow we will have to play with three forwards, we will bring a Primavera forward to the bench who will play less today in the Youth League.”

Can you think more about the second leg, focusing on the return?

“We know that it will be a challenge to be played over 180 minutes, it is not a league game and there will be the return at the end of April. However, there is always the desire for a great approach like in the last games: it is not easy, but we would like to do it tomorrow night too.”

Is there a plan for Lautaro?

“To have him available on Saturday in Parma, but we have to see day by day. You make tables in your head, then setbacks can come. He’s fine, he’s working, if it were up to him we all know he always wants to be there but unfortunately he had the problem with Atalanta.”

Is there a risk tomorrow that the three previous derbies will weigh heavily?

“We alternated with Milan: in Riyadh we had an excellent first half and in the second we were not up to par. In the league we did not approach well, having an excellent second half.

“Matches sometimes have trends conditioned also by incidents and that is where a strong, organised, experienced team must make the difference. There are always unforeseen events and they must be managed in the best way.”

What kind of Milan do you expect?

“I start from the assumption that they are a strong team, with quality, that can worry any opponent. We saw the last match, the derbies with us, the match with Real Madrid.

“They are a quality team, that had some difficulties in the season, but in a single match they worried everyone: we will need to be very careful, knowing that both will want to play the final in Rome.”

In the last derby played in April you won the league. How important was that match for the following months?

“It will remain in our hearts. It was an unforgettable day, it gave us immense joy but precedents do not go on the pitch. Tomorrow we play the first derby of the first leg, but it will be played over 180 minutes. We will have to be good, organised, determined, because we are facing a team that we respect a lot.”

Would you put someone like Leao on the bench?

“He’s an excellent player, we’ve been facing him for many years. He has quality, but I think we can’t stop at Leao alone, Milan has great players to follow at all times. They can always cause you problems.”