Inzaghi: "Leverkusen are one of the best sides in Europe"

LEVERKUSEN - The BayArena in Leverkusen will host Inter's sixth game in the UEFA Champions League. After five fixtures, the Nerazzurri are flying: one draw and four wins with no goals conceded, they sit second in the table. Now, the Interisti will face Bayer Leverkusen, reigning champions of the German league, and who have had a great journey in Europe so far this season. Xabi Alonso's side have picked up 10 points in the first five games and are currently sixth in the Champions League table.

After the win over Parma, Inter trained in the late morning at Appiano Gentile before flying to Germany where they will play on Tuesday at 21:00 CET. On the eve of the clash, Simone Inzaghi spoke to journalists in a press conference.

Has the moment come to make some calculations given the good position in the table? "We know our journey: it has been ideal. We know that with 17 points you may finish in the top 8, with 18 points it's certain: in light of this and the fact there are three games to go, we must absolutely do our best in the game against Leverkusen. We will face one of the strongest sides in Europe which has only lost three games in the last 16 months. We have prepared for a game against a very, very tough side".

To prepare for the game, did you rewatch the Europa League final between Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen from last season? "We know that facing Atalanta is never easy. We watched and rewatched Leverkusen's games, they have played with both four and three at the back recently. Xabi Alonso's side is recognisable, managed by a top coach who has his own principles: they play out from deep and press. We will have to be focused, we are ready to face whichever set-up in front of us".

Has an explanation been given of why Inter is always at the centre of criticisms or pointed comments? "I coach Inter and have the luck to be with these lads who give me everything. I know where these players have come from and I know where we have got to. After the game against Parma, I spoke and referred to the fact that at the end of 2021, the squad struggled in Europe. We have created a lot together, with the staff, management and coaches. Everyone says that our great journey began from the final in Istanbul but I think that my first year here gave something extra to us all. I'm thinking of the games against Real Madrid and Liverpool: we played fantastically against two sides who went to the final that year. We're not looking back, the game against Parma was put behind us on Saturday and then we have only thought of Bayer Leverkusen".

The numbers suggest that in the Champions League, you score little and don't concede, in the league it's different. How come? "Statistics are important. In the Champions League, we are having a certain result in terms of goals conceded, it's true. In the league, recently we have given very little away to the opposition, we need to be consistent in our performances. Bayer Leverkusen are very technical and don't allow for many predictions, we will need to be alert".

Atalanta are favourites in the race at the top of the league? "A lot of praise has to be given to Atalanta. I don't know who to say is the favourite. On July 13, in the first press conference of the season, I said that I thought that this season would be very exciting with many stars and that it would be very tight at the top like in 2023 or 2024. There are many good sides and they're all close".

Taremi always starts in the Champions League... "I am very happy with Mehdi: along with the Club, I really wanted him. We all like him, he has started all of the games in the Champions League and the table justified that. He put in a brilliant performance against Lecce. He knows that there are four other forwards and they all want to play. Arnautovic has responded positively when called into action, he never holds back. Correa is back on top form. I hope there will always be this level of choice about who to field. This also goes for the midfield, whilst we are a bit more constrained in defence: we have some issues with Acerbi, Pavard and Dumfries out as well as Palacios who isn't in the squad. I hope that from the next game, we will already have Acerbi and Dumfries back".