Inter Milan will visit the mighty Manchester City in the first round of the UEFA Champions League on Thursday at 3:00 a.m. Beijing time. Before the match, Simone Inzaghi, the manager of the Blue and Black, attended a press conference to express his expectation for the match and the team's preparation.
Inzaghi began by stating that despite Manchester City being one of the strongest opponents possible, Inter Milan are happy about this as they will give their best to play a great game. He emphasized that the team has prepared for the game in the best possible way, asking the players to play fast, aggressive and willing to make sacrifices for the team.
When asked if he had watched a replay of last year's Champions League final against Manchester City, Inzaghi said he did watch the game a week after the final and a month before. However, he emphasized that the match was not a replay of the final, but a group game under the new Champions League format. He argued that the playing environment was completely different from the past and the present, with the team having to face eight different opponents instead of a fixed few. Therefore, they will do their best to prepare for this match, but will also remain adaptable and flexible to the new system.
On the issue of Lautaro's form, Inzaghi gave his firm support. He said that Lautaro is the captain of the team and the team's key scorer. Despite his recent ups and downs in form, this is not the problem. Inzaghi pointed out that Lautaro's late arrival to the team and the many long-distance trips and matches he has experienced have had an impact on his physical state. But as the games and training progress, Inzaghi believes that Lautaro will find his best form and continue to contribute goals to the team.
Speaking about the game strategy, Inzaghi said that Inter Milan knew very well that they would not dominate the pace of the game against Manchester City. He emphasized that the team must perform well when either City or Inter are in possession. He specifically mentioned that Guardiola is very good at controlling the ball, so Inter must play clearly and intelligently when controlling the ball. At the same time, Inzaghi also admitted that it is not a good idea to give the ball to Manchester City, as they are very strong in possession.
Finally, when asked how many points are needed to finish in the top eight of the Champions League, Inzaghi said he hadn't done any specific calculations. However, he believes that the number of points needed can be roughly estimated by simulating an eight-match league format. He said that this is a brand new format and will be a challenge for all teams. But he believes the system will be successful because it increases the number and difficulty of matches, but at the same time brings more excitement and thrill to the fans.
