MADRID, 11 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Inter’s coach, Simone Inzaghi, wanted to settle the arbitration controversy that arose in the first leg of the match against Barcelona, stating that the referee “continues to whistle” and that “UEFA has confirmed that the decisions were correct”.
“I never talk about the referee, I don’t talk about the referee’s decisions, I will only say that the first-leg referee is still blowing the whistle and that UEFA has confirmed that the first-leg decisions at San Siro were correct,” said the coach this Tuesday in the preview of the match against FC Barcelona.
The Italian explained that in the first game they knew “it was a great opportunity” for them and they took it that way. “Tomorrow is very important, from the day of the draw, when we got Bayern and Barcelona, we knew we would have to be at our best level,” he added.
Simone Inzaghi recognized that although they play “in an important stadium”, they have to be themselves and play their game, “knowing that there will be difficulties during the match”. “We will have to be well at the worst moment to suffer together and then put Barcelona in trouble with what we have prepared,” he stressed.
On whether Inter is a defensive team, their coach was clear with an “absolutely not”. “In the first few months we played good football that was recognized in Italy and throughout Europe,” said the Italian coach.
In the first leg, Inzaghi stressed that he used “a low block to not give Barcelona space” because they knew they could not “leave space for them because they have a high-quality squad”, to which was added that the team arrived after “two defeats against Udinese and Roma”, so he needed to be more cautious.
The low level of the azulgranas in the first leg, for Inzaghi, was “largely thanks to Inter”, as he believed that “in recent league games, Barcelona has always played good football”. However, he hopes that tomorrow’s game will be “different” in terms of football.
“Not even the players know the line-up. I can change, I still have time to decide,” said Inzaghi, who explained that there are several different tactical decisions that he can use in a match where “the details” have to be taken into account.
Regarding the possible problems that Italian fans may encounter when visiting Barcelona, the Inter coach is “calm”. “I can only say that when we play at home, rival fans are always welcome,” he said.
In fact, he wanted to extend that to the leaders of both clubs as well. “At the end of the game in San Siro I ran into the president of Barcelona and we greeted each other cordially, and I spoke with Xavi before and after the game and he has been very respectful towards me,” Inzaghi concluded.