Inzaghi: ‘Inter deserved extra time in 2023 Final with Manchester City’ | OneFootball

Simone Inzaghi cannot wait to play the Champions League Final with Paris Saint-Germain, especially as Inter still feel they ‘deserved at least to go to extra time’ against Manchester City in 2023.

The showdown in Munich on May 31 will be the second time the Nerazzurri have made it to the Final in the last three years, a remarkable achievement considering their budget restraints in comparison with many of the giants who fell along the way.

“It has been a long run to reach the Final, we did it one step at a time,” Inzaghi told UEFA.com.

“Everyone remembers the semi-final against Barcelona, but I think Bayern Munich were also extremely difficult to beat, because they are a well-organised and very physical side. The quarter-final was just like a semi-final, these were four incredibly intense encounters.

“The journey we’ve had in the last few years are down to the hard work and sacrifice of everyone.”

Inter and Inzaghi still smarting over Istanbul

MILAN, ITALY – MAY 18: Yann Aurel Bisseck of FC Internazionale celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammate Marcus Thuram during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SS Lazio at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on May 18, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Inzaghi had already come close to glory in Istanbul in 2023, when losing 1-0 to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

That is a result that still doesn’t sit well with Inter, who feel they can make up for that defeat this time around.

“We all remember that Final very well. We played on level terms with such a strong team like Manchester City,” said Inzaghi.

“We probably deserved at least to go to extra time in that game, but the performance in any case gave us belief in our capabilities.”

It is put forward as a key reason why Inter were able to win the Serie A title the next season, then push their way to the Champions League Final again this time around.

Inter see maturity as a benefit

MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 08: Hakan Calhanoglu and Marko Arnautovic of FC Internazionale show appreciation to the fans following 3-2 victory after the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Monza at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on March 08, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

While Inzaghi’s side was put together at a fraction of the budget and wage bill boasted by Paris Saint-Germain, he does have the squad with the oldest average age in the knockout stages of the competition.

“I don’t think being a little older is a problem, if anything it can help a great deal in certain moments of those really important matches. I have a group of great players, but above all of great men, who always work in the best way and try to stay clear-headed,” concluded the Inter coach.

“Victory would be the crowning moment of the work we started four years ago. We want to give our fans this joy, and we’ll give it everything we’ve got.”