Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi admitted the toll of a gruelling campaign is beginning to show, even as his side maintained their Serie A lead with a 3-1 home victory over Cagliari on Saturday. The win keeps Inter six points clear of Napoli, who face Empoli on Monday, as the race for the Scudetto heats up.
With the Nerazzurri still battling on three fronts—the league, Coppa Italia, and Champions League—Inzaghi noted the challenges of managing such a demanding schedule.
“We really cared about this match and knew it would not be easy,” Inzaghi told reporters. “We got distracted for their goal but the team remained concentrated for the rest of the game. We continue this journey. It’s a struggle but it makes us proud.”
Inter have already played 48 matches this season, just one short of last year’s total, with several crucial fixtures still to come. Inzaghi emphasized the impact of the relentless calendar on his squad.
“Besides physical fatigue, there’s also mental fatigue,” he said. “Staying focused isn’t easy but I’m fortunate to coach a group that gives everything for these colours. We must continue on this path knowing that we still have six league matches ahead and commitments in other competitions. It will require a lot of sacrifice, and we are ready to put it on the field.”
Next up for Inter is a Champions League quarter-final second leg against Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich on Wednesday, holding a 2-1 advantage from the first leg.
“We go into this fixture with a lot of confidence, knowing that we are facing one of the three or four best teams in the world,” said Inzaghi. “We’ve got to replicate that first leg performance, playing with pace, aggression and organisation.”
Inter are also set to meet city rivals AC Milan in the second leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final on April 23, with the tie delicately balanced at 1-1. As the season reaches its climax, Inzaghi and his squad are bracing for a demanding but potentially historic run-in.
