Inzaghi: You do not win trophies for being top at Christmas

Inter head coach Simone Inzaghi is happy with the Nerazzurri’s first half to the season but says you do not win trophies for being top at Christmas.

The Nerazzurri face Torino on Wednesday knowing that win, lose or draw they will sit top of the Serie A at Christmas, currently holding a four-point lead from Napoli and Milan who are both on 39 points.

Inzaghi took over at Inter following a challenging off-season for the champions with Antonio Conte exiting along with Romelu Lukaku but has steadied after a slow start yet he is motivated for more.

“It’s normal to be pleased at the moment,” Inzaghi told Inter TV. “We’re thrilled to be top of the table heading into the winter break, but we know we don’t get any trophies for that.

“It’s a great feeling, but it should also spur us on to achieve more.

“We’re in good form. The players are all committed. We’re lucky enough to be working well together despite having so many fixtures to play.

“We’re doing well, but we know there’s still a long way to go. We’ve seen that over the first 18 games of the season the leaders have changed quickly.”

Inter boasts an impressive record after 18 games, with 13 wins and only one defeat, having scored a league-high 48 goals despite Lukaku’s off-season departure.

The Nerazzurri have won six in a row in the league and are undefeated in 10 games, dating back to October’s 3-1 loss to Lazio.

Inzaghi’s side have also qualified for the last-16 of the Champions League where they will face Liverpool.

“We’re on track in terms of what was asked of us, which was to get back into the last 16 in the Champions League and to be in the top four in the league, so we’re pleased,” Inzaghi added.

“The players are working very hard and there’s motivation to keep going down this path, with all the many challenges that lie in wait.”