Turkey coach Simone Inzaghi hinted that Inter have a special plan to limit the danger of striker Erling Haaland in the Champions League final.
In a press conference on June 9 before the match at the Ataturk Stadium, Inzaghi revealed that tactically, Inter will try to press high. But he also emphasized that his students must be highly vigilant against Haaland - the biggest threat in the home field.
"We know the strength of Man City and the strength of Haaland," Inzaghi said. "We have a special idea for Haaland. We have prepared some things, which will be the things Inter must do well to limit Man City. But we will have to face not only Haaland, but the whole Man City team."
Coach Inzaghi (in white shirt) watches Inter players practice at Ataturk Stadium on June 9. Photo: inter.it
Opta statistics show that Man City's chances of winning the Champions League are up to 74%, nearly three times higher than Inter's. Inzaghi believes that Inter being underestimated is normal, because Man City is the strongest club in the world , showing its strength when crushing Bayern and Real Madrid on the way to the final. The 47-year-old coach highly appreciates Man City's defense, but believes that the battle in the midfield will decide the Champions League final.
"We know we have a great chance to make history," Inzaghi stressed. "We know it will be difficult to win, but we will try. Unity has brought Inter to the final, and we will try together to make a miracle."
Inzaghi said midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan had recovered from injury and was in top form, and would only decide whether Romelu Lukaku or Edin Dzeko would partner Lautaro Martinez before kick-off. He also revealed that Inter had been practising penalty kicks in preparation for a shootout.
This season, Italian football has three representatives in the European finals for the first time since the 1993-1994 season. In the first two finals, Roma lost to Sevilla in the Europa League, while Fiorentina fell to West Ham in the Europa Conference League. Inzaghi said that having three representatives in the European Cup final was a great achievement for Italian football, regretting Roma and Fiorentina, but affirmed that these defeats did not affect Inter's mentality.
"I am lucky to coach players who know how to play these types of games, because Inter not only have players who have played many finals, but also many who have played important games," Inzaghi added. "We have world and European champions. Obviously we have to be focused, manage the details well because they make the difference in games like this."
One of the people mentioned by Inzaghi is Lautaro Martinez - a member of the Argentina team that won the 2022 World Cup. Martinez is a key factor when he scored 28 and assisted 11 goals in 56 matches in all competitions, helping Inter win the Italian Super Cup, Italian Cup and reach the Champions League final.
Lautaro at Ataturk Stadium on June 9. Photo: inter.it
Asked about the similarities and differences between the Champions League final and the World Cup, the Argentine striker said: "These are the two most important finals a player can play in, the only thing that is different is the shirt. The emotions are the same, unique, with the ambition to win. We are entering the final and we have to be ready."
Hong Duy
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