MY ACCOUNT
Simone Inzaghi thinks Inter Milan’s recent struggles against rivals AC Milan will act as extra motivation ahead of their Coppa Italia semi-final second leg.
Inter face Serie A leaders Milan on Tuesday, bidding for a first appearance in the Coppa Italia final since they defeated Palermo to lift the trophy in 2011.
Inter, however, have failed to win any of the three previous derby encounters this season, picking up just a single point in their two league meetings before drawing the first leg of the semi-final 0-0.
Three winless derbies marks Inter’s worst such run against the Rossoneri since 2005, but Inzaghi believes the Nerazzurri can use those results to give them an edge this time.
“We’ve had three derbies so far, two in the league and one in the Coppa Italia,” Inzaghi told a news conference.
“We know we have to [win], and we want to win tomorrow because we want to reach the final.
“We could’ve got more [from the previous games]. We needed to be sharper to make key moments go our way, as they can be pivotal. It’s such an important game.
“Certainly [the results could motivate Inter]. The three derbies have all been different. We played very well in the first two, whereas the two teams cancelled each other out in the last one, knowing that there was a second leg to come.
“That was a very cagey game. The team knows that, and we know it’s a wonderful chance for us, which we want to grab with both hands.
“We’re on track to achieve both of our targets. We’re doing very well and mustn’t forget that we also won the Italian Super Cup in January.”
Inter have been eliminated in each of their last four Coppa Italia semi-final ties, having progressed on six of their previous seven appearances at this stage. Overall, no team has suffered more semi-final eliminations than Inter (19).
Meanwhile, Inter failed to score when classified as the away team in last month’s first leg, leaving them at risk of losing on away goals if they concede.
Inzaghi believes, as is the case in UEFA competitions, that the rule should have been abolished this season.
“There had already been talk about the away goal rule before the first leg, but it was too late,” he added.
“I think it should’ve been the same as it is in Europe, but once the decision was made, it’s only fair for it to carry on in the same way [as earlier in the competition].
“We’ll need to be even more focused, because as we didn’t score in the first leg, every moment in the game could prove to be decisive.
“We know how important away goals could be, so we’ll have to be fully focused at every point in the game, knowing that we’re up against a top side. We’ll need to keep focused for the full 95 minutes and for possible extra time as well.”
Inter and Milan have faced off in the Coppa Italia on 26 previous occasions, with the Nerazzurri managing eight wins.
