"Atletico are the best home side in La Liga"

Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi remarked on Tuesday that Atletico Madrid, their opponents in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at the Estadio Civitas Metropolitano on Wednesday, are "transformed at home".

"We know it will be a difficult game, against an opponent that is extremely brave. It becomes something different here at home. We have a slender lead. It's a fact that Atletico are transformed at home. In La Liga they are the best home side. If they always played here they would be the leaders. Out of 14 games they have won 13," he told a press conference on Tuesday, before defending the 1-0 first leg win at the San Siro.

"Of the last 30 games, they only lost to Athletic (0-1, in the Copa del Rey semi-finals). I watched that game on TV and surely they didn't deserve to lose that game. We all know what Atletico are, what a great coach Simeone is, who is also a friend and a great team-mate. We have prepared in the best way," he said. 

"We will play the game without thinking about what happened in Milan," continued Inzaghi, who pointed out that his team has adapted to the diverse approaches of other teams in the past: "We did very well against teams who have waited for us or who have been more aggressive. We don't know what Atletico will do. They have a team that changes during the game."

"Sometimes they are more aggressive, sometimes less so, their players have a lot of quality.... We are aware that it will be a very intense game. We will have to be skilful, manage the difficulties and be able to make the difference," explained the coach, who lamented the absence of both Marko Arnautovic and Carlos Augusto, both of whom were key in the first leg at the San Siro when they came on.

Inter have lost just two of their 38 games this term. "We know the history of Inter, everything they have done, which has been great. Last year we made our run and managed to reach the final in Istanbul. And this year we want to do it again. We're putting the championship to one side for the moment and thinking about every game," he said.

 

March 13, 2024