Inzaghi: "We needed this win. Dzeko's goal was liberating"

MILAN – Simone Inzaghi admitted the tension had been getting to him before Edin Dzeko finally made the breakthrough in the second half against Shakhtar Donetsk.

The Bosnian then added a second to seal the win for Inter and take them up to ten points in Group D – which should be enough to send the Nerazzurri through to the knockout stages.

“We needed this win,” the boss began after the final whistle. “We created so many chances in the first half but just couldn't break the deadlock. The tension was building up so when Dzeko scored it was liberating. That's why I celebrated the way I did!

“If we reach the next round, it will be a great achievement. It was one of the things I spoke about with the management when I signed my contract. We need to wait though because football is a funny old game, but normally ten points are enough to see you through.

“We produced another superb performance today barely two days after our previous match, which drained us mentally and physically.

"We're in decent form at the moment but there are lots of games still to play and plenty of dangers. We've won two key matches but we have to keep doing it now and we have a lot of work to do. I've tried to convey my ideas to the lads and they're taking them on board. We're playing some excellent football and have the best attack in Serie A, although we've dropped a few too many points along the way. 

“Now I want to get those who have played less on a par with the others because this is a fantastic group of players and I don't want anyone to get left behind.”

Finally, Inzaghi offered his thoughts on Ivan Perisic, after the Croat delivered another fabulous performance. 

“Ivan is doing magnificently. I had to face him as an opponent for four years and he was always a problem, first as a winger with [Luciano] Spalletti and then as a wing-back under [Antonio] Conte. The first thing I thought when I joined was that he'd be a fantastic resource – he is that, without a doubt. He needs to keep it up, just like the rest of his team-mates.”