Inzaghi: ‘No excuses for us: we are here to continue our journey’ | OneFootball

Inter Milano are in Prague for matchday 7 of the UEFA Champions League league phase. The Nerazzurri come into the fixture against Sparta with 13 points from their first six matches.

It will be a very important match for Inzaghi's team in terms of their European football journey, as they will then face Monaco at San Siro next week for the final matchday.

From Stadion Letná in Prague, here are the comments from Simone Inzaghi in the press conference on the eve of the match.

What does this match represent? Which Inter team can we expect?

‘We know the importance of this match. The formation: I still have some doubts; we just played the match against Empoli, and I'll have to try to make some choices. There are a couple of questions to be answered tomorrow morning. Sparta haven't played in official matches since 15 December, but they did well in the last two friendlies. They're a physical team: I played here a couple of times as a player and it's never easy to play in this stadium.’

How is Francesco Acerbi? Do you expect anything movements from the market?

‘The club, the president, Ausilio, Baccin, are always close to us and monitoring. I wouldn't change the players I have at the moment for anything in the world. Acerbi is working well: he seemed on the verge of returning with Empoli. He still can't push to the maximum, and he won't even be there against Lecce: he'll have to do additional individual work. I'm calm because he'll be back soon and he'll give us a big hand.'

How important is this match?

‘This is a game against a physical team that playes vertically a lot; when not in possession, they play 5-3-2. They are a good team that did very well against Salzburg and Stuttgart, even if they lost to City and Atletico, very strong teams. We will need many duels, and we will need to be good technically: Sparta have been playing Champions League football for many years. They have this competition in their DNA.'

You have already played here wearing the Lazio shirt.

‘I remember it very well. I played in Lazio vs Sparta, scoring two goals at the Olimpico, and here I logged an assist for Ravanelli. We came back again, with Mancini as our coach: we lost and were eliminated. So the memories here are both positive and negative. Now it's my first time as a coach: I hope to give everyone a great match.'

In your opinion, why do you not get proper credit in Italy?

‘There are no such problems: I don't like people talking about me. You have to talk about Inter and my players, who are having a great run. We have to continue like this: we want to be protagonists until the end, in the Champions League and in the championship, where we have to defend the Scudetto with all our strengths, against strong and competitive opponents. We have been one of the main players in Europe in recent years: it's in our DNA, and we must play as many games as possible, without creating the excuse of having too many fixtures. There are many of them, but we like to face these matches: I have no doubt that whoever plays in the end will give us a great hand. We have a few players out, and I need everyone because we are playing one match after another: it's not easy, but it happens to many teams.'

How is Frattesi?

‘Davide has trained very well in the last two days. He came off the bench against Empoli, even though he hadn't trained. He did so well today and yesterday that I'm evaluating whether to start him from the beginning. I'm thinking about whether to deploy him or Barella, who has had seven consecutive games. Even if Davide doesn't start, he'll certainly give us a hand in the game. He's calm, and he likes being in the team: seeing his form in the last two days gives me hope.'

What is Buchanan's situation?

‘I asked all the guys if anyone was unsatisfied - not so much because of the harmony in the dressing room, which isn't lacking - but because of other situations. No one told me that they were. Tajon had a significant injury, but he is training very well, and he will have to be good at carving out space for himself. We trust him: we know he can help us.'