Inzaghi “delighted” with 2021 finale

MILAN – Inter ended 2021 in seventh heaven after victory over Torino saw them rack up a seventh successive Serie A win and sixth straight clean sheet.

Denzel Dumfries's first-half strike was enough for Simone Inzaghi's side to reach the midway point of the campaign top of the table on 46 points.

The coach assessed his team's performance after the final whistle: “We played well against a team that are very difficult to play against. We prepared for the game well because we knew they would try to harry us relentlessly and throw us off our game. We still managed to play really well but we should have scored a second goal in the first half.

"We were rarely troubled today. The team kept their shape well and we moved the ball around well, even with Torino making it hard for us.

“We're delighted with the way we've finished 2021. We'll rest up a bit now then get going again next year with the same spirit.

“I had big hopes when I joined Inter in the summer, then I got to know the players and that reinforced my belief. It's easy for people to say Inter are a juggernaut now but it's not what they were saying in July. That has to be an incentive for us going forward as there will be lots more hurdles for us to clear. 

“The club did a magnificent job in the summer by bringing in players who are functional to the football I want to play, then my staff and I did our own jobs and instilled our ideas.

“We never lost heart, not even when there was a big gap with the top earlier in the season. We're happy with our form but we know there's still a long road ahead and it's full of pitfalls.”

Asked what he would like for Christmas, the coach replied: “To spend time with my parents, my wife and my children. We're very lucky to do the job we do but when you're playing games every three days and doing so much travelling, you don't get much time for your loved ones, who are such a fundamental part of our lives.”