MY ACCOUNT
Inter Milan head coach Simone Inzaghi was pleased to see his team pick up where they left off after following last week’s win in the Derby d’Italia at Juventus with another three points against Hellas Verona on Saturday.
First-half goals from Nicolo Barella and Edin Dzeko sealed a routine 2-0 win for the Nerazzurri, who moved up to second ahead of Napoli and just a point behind city rivals Milan.
It was the first time Inter have won back-to-back Serie A games this year. Indeed, they have done so for the first time since a run of eight league wins between November 2021 and January 2022.
That was what pleased Inzaghi most about the victory, and he told reporters after the game: “It is an important signal to give continuity. It was vital to follow up on the match in Turin.
“We had prepared well for this match because we knew about the strength of Verona, who came from an excellent streak. We played very well in the first half, while in the second we managed the match.
“In the last matches the results had not arrived and the head was heavy, periods like this are understandable.”
Despite being the reigning champions, Inzaghi believes he has seen a progression in the team since his arrival.
“When I arrived I was aware of the difficulties, but the club absolutely did not want to give up despite the necessary sacrifices,” he added. “Trust in this team has never failed.”
The former Lazio boss made changes to his starting line-up, bringing Federico Dimarco in for Alessandro Bastoni, explaining: “Dimarco has very important characteristics and in Naples he had done well, while Bastoni came from a tour de force.
“I have the obligation to make the choices and we evaluated that it was a match in which Dimarco was better placed to play.
Stefan de Vrij was forced off at half-time at San Siro, but Inzaghi insisted it was merely a precaution.
“He has had flexor fatigue and it shouldn’t be anything serious,” he reassured reporters.
