Inter Milan Coach Promises To Take The Fight To Atletico Madrid: ‘We Won’t Play A Speculative Game’

Simone Inzaghi is promising that Inter Milan will play a proactive game and not “speculate” against Atletico Madrid.

The Nerazzurri coach gave his thoughts on the Champions League round of sixteen second leg in a press conference ahead of the match, as reported by FCInterNews.

Tomorrow evening, Inter will attempt to finish the job that they started in the first leg of their tie against Atletico.

But the scoreline could put the Nerazzurri in an awkward position.

Of course, it is not as though Inter would prefer that the score be level on aggregate, or to be behind to Atletico.

But a 1-0 advantage is a very slender one to protect. And it will mean that Atletico will be playing a very aggressive game in front of their fans at the Metropolitano.

It could also mean the risk of Inter taking their foot off the gas a little.

After all, Inter do know that they have the advantage, at least from the opening whistle.

Therefore, the Nerazzurri might have an incentive to not overcommit, and to stick to what they have.

But according to Inzaghi, that’s not what his team will do. The 47-year-old expects Inter to go out and play their game as always.

Inzaghi: Inter “Won’t Speculate” Vs Atletico Madrid

Of coming up against Atletico, Inzaghi observed that “They transform themselves here at home.”

“In La Liga, they’ve had the best record in home matches,” he went on.

“In their last 29, they’ve only lost to Athletic,” the Inter coach noted. “And they would not have deserved that.”

“We all know what kind of a team Atletico are, who Simeone is,” Inzaghi went on. “A great coach and a friend.”

“We have the smallest advantage possible,” the Nerazzurri coach made clear. “We won’t play a speculative game based on what we did in the first leg.”

Asked if he thinks the current Inter team were “born” after last season’s Champions League final against Manchester City in Istanbul, Inzaghi didn’t look at it that way.

“I don’t agree that this team was born after Istanbul,” the coach said.

He made clear, “I look at the three-year journey.”

“I look at what we did in the cup competitions. I look back on what we did to overcome a very tough group, and playing excellent matches against Liverpool and Real Madrid.”

“It’s been a three-year journey,” Inzaghi continued. “And the team has always gone through to the round of sixteen, which something that can’t be taken for granted here at Inter in the last ten years.”

As far as the tactical side of tomorrow’s match, Inzaghi said that “This season we’ve done well against teams who have come out and attacked us.”

“But we’ve also done well against teams who have sat back and waited for us,” he added.

“I don’t know how Atletico can play. They can also switch during the course of the match.”

“They have quality players,” Inzaghi said. “We know that it will be a very intense match. We have to do well at managing the difficult moments.”

Praise For Alexis Sanchez, Still Deciding On Starting XI

The Inter coach also had words of praise for forward Alexis Sanchez.

The veteran former Arsenal and Barcelona man has had a run of positive performances in recent weeks.

“We have to give him our congratulations,” he said of the Chilean.

“Because he arrived here without having had any preseason. He endeared himself to everyone.”

“He’s a player we know well,” Inzaghi said of Sanchez. “His technical ability, his goals.”

“His behaviour has been exemplary,” the coach added.

“Both he and Arnautovic have been fundamental. Now he has to keep going like this. He’ll get plenty of playing time.”

Meanwhile, Inzaghi did not give a clear answer as to whether he’ll start Stefan de Vrij or Francesco Acerbi in defense tomorrow.

“I still have a lot of decisions to make,” the coach made clear.

“Acerbi returned against Bologna,” he said. “But then there’s de Vrij, who has been playing one match better than the last lately.”

“Maybe I’ll rest a mezzala,” the coach suggested.

“Then I have both Dumfries and Darmian, both of whom are doing well.”

Inzaghi added that “The only worry for me is not having Carlos Augusto and Arnautovic available. They played a fundamental role in the first leg.”

“Unfortunately, they picked up injuries during our last match, and will not be here with us.”