Inzaghi: "We are Inter: we want to win this game"

APPIANO GENTILE - APPIANO GENTILE - Inter vs. Juventus is edging ever closer: the Derby d'Italia, matchday 23 in Serie A, is scheduled for Sunday at San Siro at 20:45 CET. On the eve of the match, Nerazzurri boss Simone Inzaghi answered questions from journalists in the game's pre-match press conference:

What type of match are you expecting and how important will this it be? What will it take to get a positive result? "Tomorrow's match is very important, but it won't decide anything. It will be very hard-fought, in the reverse fixture it wasn't an exciting match, but this time around we're playing at home in front of our fans and we'll try to give as best a performance as possible. Juventus had a great season, similar to ours, we are preparing as best we can." Do you feel the need to win this match? "Winning every game is the objective. Our and Juventus' positions and numbers in the table, despite having a game in hand, are very similar. We know the importance of this match; we have a huge respect for Juventus, but we will play it in the best way we can." Tactically, how do you expect the game to play out? If you could take out one Juventus player, who'd it be? "We have played Juventus many times in recent years, including finals and semi-finals, and every game has had its own story. Tomorrow will be a tight affair, where we'll need to be smart, play with heart and be ready to make that extra run for a teammate in trouble, covering the pitch as best as possible. Juventus is having an outstanding season: they have played 24 games, we have played 30 and it has been a great run so far, they have all been very good." Who's got the most pressure on them tomorrow? "Both teams will have pressure, but we need to be embrace this big match. There will be pressure, and so there should be, but we must be proud to play this fixture We will have our fans behind us and we want to make them happy." Do you expect to see Inter at their best? "I hope so and we have prepared for this; the boys are training well, but we still have today and tomorrow's session to do. Everyone is available for selection except Cuadrado. It will be a very important match for its meaning as well as for the table, in a magnificent stadium and with a wonderful crowd. We will try to do our best" After the Champions League final, is this your most important game at Inter? Who are the favourites? "There's been a lot of talk about favourites; we are Inter and we know we have a huge responsibility in every game. We have already provided 30 very positive ones, and in January we played five matches in 22 days, with the last four being away from our home, San Siro, and we won a trophy. We have to look ahead though; we want to win this match. I don't want to make comparisons though; there are still four months to go and it's not a match that will decide things." Inter at home attack, Juventus sit back: is tomorrow's game one where Inter come out on top? "We always try to give a big performance, then on the eve of the game I may have an idea, but in the end there is always an opponent in front of you. Results depend on our performances, but we have a great team up against us and who will be preparing for it in the same way as us. We have played them eight times in the last few years, each with a different story; we are two teams with top players."

What similarities and differences do you and Allegri have? "Allegri has won a lot, he is a winner and an expert. He is very pragmatic, I like him a lot, I've seen an excellent Juventus this year: they've won 16 out of 21 game. They've done really well to keep up with us; that requires an excellent team and they are proving to be one."

What makes a team's attitude change? What can we expect? "It depends on the game and the opponent: as I have said many times, we can predict how a game goes, but then, despite what we've prepared for, everything can change during a match. We have also seen Inter change a lot; we want to give a big performance". The pitch at San Siro is new, how much can this be an advantage for you? "We will go there today to do our final session; we've been away for the last four games. We have found the pitches to be perfect in the last few outings, it's right that Inter and AC Milan have a great pitch." How important was it to rest Barella, Calhanoglu and Dimarco? How is Dumfries? "Dumfries had an excellent start to the season, thanks also from Cuadrado's help, then he had a major problem. He's been working hard, and he's coming back in the right way. But being the type of physical player he is, he has to be at 100%. Darmian has played very well there in this period, and then there's Buchanan, who needs to settle in more, but he will give us a big hand soon enough. Dimarco played some excellent matches after his return, he gave a lot in Saudi Arabia and I wanted to give him a rest, while the others were suspended".

Have recent results, before this match, given you confidence? "Clearly victories bring great self-confidence, we need to keep this going. This week, we looked back on what we could have done better in Florence; as a staff, we look beyond the result and analyse where we can always do better. Every game always give us lessons to learn."

In your opinion, can Buchanan also play in a more advanced role? When will he be able to make his debut? "He is an excellent player, with great technical and physical qualities: good in one-on-one situations, he will give us a big hand, and is improving, but he still needs time to settle after moving from another league. Take the example of Bisseck, who was a sponge at the start and was very good; in the last two months, he has become an effective starter for Inter, and it will be the same for Buchanan." How do you as a coach isolate yourself and the team from criticism? "We've had a great schooling in recent years, but I think it is normal when with a big club. There is pressure and you always want results. We can only work the best way we can; I have great faith in my players, we take on the huge responsibility in representing this jersey and these colours. We have felt the pleasure and satisfaction, but we must always look forward." How is it this season that only Inter seem to always run out winners? "As I've said on many other occasions, I don't care what others say, I know our journey and our responsibilities; we don't hide from them. We will try to be in as many competitions as possible: we won the Super Cup, unfortunately we lost in the Coppa Italia, but we will give our best in the league and Champions League." You have a similar record to Allegri: is there something in his playing style that makes you struggle? "I have huge respect for Allegri, fortunately we have beaten Juventus a lot, even if we have also lost in recent years. This match is not Inzaghi vs. Allegri, but Inter vs. Juventus, the players, who go onto the pitch to help their teams win, are the main attraction".

Is having won the Cups an advantage or a disadvantage? "It's certainly an advantage to play one match a week, there's no point denying it, but it's also pointless to discuss it. We know that's how it is; we're happy with our Champions League run and we'll keep carrying on, preparing for our games in the best possible way. January was challenging, February will perhaps be even more so with six games coming up until February 28."