Inter Milan’s manager, Simone Inzaghi, expressed his pride after his team’s hard-fought victory against RB Salzburg, securing their place in the Champions League Round of 16 with two games to spare.
Inzaghi’s tactical adjustments paid off as Inter made six changes to their starting lineup, facing a physically demanding Salzburg side. Despite the challenges, Inzaghi praised his team’s performance, emphasizing their ability to control the game in the final 20 minutes.
The pivotal moment of the match came when Nicolò Barella’s shot was blocked by Mads Bistrup’s arm, resulting in a penalty that Lautaro Martinez successfully converted. Inzaghi credited Martinez’s eagerness to play and also acknowledged the contributions of Alexis Sanchez and Marcus Thuram from the bench.
One of the intriguing aspects of Inter’s strategy was Hakan Calhanoglu’s deeper role in the game, a departure from his usual position. Inzaghi explained that this tactical decision was aimed at building the game from the back with four players while pressuring Salzburg to open up.
The victory secured Inter’s place in the Round of 16, where they will face Real Sociedad in a head-to-head battle at San Siro. The outcome of this match will determine which team claims the top spot in the group and, in theory, secures a more favorable draw in the knockout stage.
Inzaghi acknowledged the significance of qualifying with two games to spare, a feat that hadn’t been achieved in a while. However, he remained cautious, recognizing that no Champions League fixtures are easy and emphasizing the need to stay focused in the remaining matches.
Inter Milan joins an elite group of clubs already through to the knockout phase, including Real Sociedad, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Real Madrid, and RB Leipzig. As they continue their campaign, Inter aims to make their mark on the competition and pursue Champions League glory.
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