Inzaghi: "We really wanted this final, we will give our everything to win"
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— May 23rd 2023The Nerazurri coach's thoughts from the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on the eve of Fiorentina v Inter, the Coppa Italia final scheduled for Wednesday at 21:00 CEST
The eve of the final for Inter: the Nerazzurri will take the field on Wednesday against Fiorentina in the last act of the 2022/2023 Coppa Italia Frecciarossa. Second consecutive final for Simone Inzaghi's team, who answered journalists' questions in the press conference:
Who is the favourite in this match?
Tomorrow is a final. I have played several, sometimes you were favourites and sometimes not, tomorrow we face a team that is in great shape, we know what we will get, we have already faced each other this year. Fiorentina deserved two very important finals, as did Inter. It will be an open final and we will have to be a team, hold the moments of the match and be good at directing it.
Italiano called you a finals specialist. Do you feel differently about these kind of matches?
Hopefully this reputation can continue because we have two finals to play, so I hope the streak can continue but I just have to thank the guys. This year we have had happy and not so happy moments, in the last two months we have done some very important things, in the league we were behind, even there we did well but we still have a little step left and then there is the Champions League final, unexpected for most but we have always had a hope of playing it since the draw.
Did President Mattarella also say something to you ahead of the Champions League game?
He gave a very emotional speech, I had already been there once before, he spoke to both teams openly, it was a positive meeting, we are men of sport and we must always set a good example for everyone.
With such tight schedules, what is the most important thing?
We will have to be good at thinking match by match, there are four games left but they are all more important than the other. I coach guys who have already played several finals, tomorrow will be the sixteenth game in fifty-three days and there are four more to go. We've practically played a group stage in two months, we've been good at managing our strengths. I'm a little disappointed because I would have liked Mkhitaryan and Skriniar too, but at this point with so many games it's normal to have a few absences.
Is there a risk that Fiorentina might have more hunger?
No, because we have a lot of respect for Fiorentina and we know what kind of game we have to play and the difficult path that brought us here to Rome. We wanted this final with all our might so we'll try to do our best knowing that we're up against an opponent who are in good shape but Inter will try to bring the Coppa home like last year.
What credit do you give to Inzaghi for these two finals?
Even when you win trophies, like the Supercoppa in January, I think you get those results as a team, you win together and you lose together. We have been good in difficult moments to stay together without ever looking for a culprit but on the contrary always trying to find solutions.
Is there any fear thinking about the other final?
No because we know the sacrifices we have made to get to play this final and so the crazy effort these guys always put in will not be missing , we will have to be good to bring it home.
Could Skriniar be back for Istanbul?
He is doing important individual work, he will have a consultation on Thursday and I hope he will be available for the last two matches.
Marotta said you will stay 100 per cent, do you agree with the percentage?
Absolutely, I have a contract and I have never felt insecure. I've always worked for Inter twenty-four hours a day together with the staff. Then we know that we coaches everywhere are always judged by our results.