Reuters: Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi said he never doubted that his team could reach the Champions League final as they completed a resounding 3-0 aggregate victory over rivals AC Milan yesterday. A month ago, Inzaghi faced criticism and was under pressure after a lacklustre run of results, yet his side has turned it around and their 1-0 semi-final second leg win over Milan was their eighth in a row in all competitions.
“It was a dream at the start, but we always believed, we had an extraordinary run and to win the semi-final in a derby this way is immensely satisfying. We can only praise the lads,” Inzaghi told Sport Mediaset. Inter are third in Serie A and will face Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia final on May 24. Their return to form has been built on a solid defence, keeping six clean sheets in their current winning streak and conceding only three goals. “I had said a long while back we would put in a crazy effort without looking at one competition or the other, just trying to achieve our best,” he said.
Inzaghi basked in the glory of his team’s victory over Milan, a fourth successive win over their city rivals. Milan had not suffered four defeats in a single campaign against Inter since the 1973-74 season. “They showed strength, determination, aggression, concentration, they were wonderful,” he said.