Inzaghi Declares ‘We Believe’ Ahead Of Inter Milan Vs Barcelona Champions League Showdown – Adds Lautaro & Pavard Fitness Updates | OneFootball

Simone Inzaghi insists that Inter Milan “believe” ahead of their Champions League showdown with the Barcelona.

The Nerazzurri coach spoke in a press conference ahead of the semifinal second leg clash, as reported by FCInterNewsw. He also gave updates in the fitness of Lautaro Martinez and Benjamin Pavard.

It will be a potentially season-defining match for both of the two teams.

Inter have a real chance of reaching the final of Europe’s top club competition for the second time in just three years.

And there is everything to play for after the first leg of the tie last Wednesday ended in a 3-3 draw.

Inzaghi Says Inter Milan “Believe” Ahead Of Champions League Clash Vs Barcelona

MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 16: Simone Inzaghi, Head Coach of FC Internazionale, gives instructions during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final Second Leg match between FC Internazionale Milano and FC Bayern München at San Siro on April 16, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi gave his thoughts ahead of today’s match.

“We all know how important this match will be,” he said. “And we all have to play it together.”

“With the fans behind us, and as a group.”

Inzaghi acknowledged that “Barcelona are a strong team.”

“We’ve seen a lot of video of them. And it will take a great Inter performance.”

The Inter coach then insisted that “the group believes in it.”

“They want it. And they’re waiting for the match with the right kind of tension.”

Inzaghi noted that “in the league Barca have 81% possession, and in the Champions League 76%.”

“They don’t change much. In defense, they take some risks, but the risks are calculated well by Flick, who’s a coach I respect.”

“They’re still in the running for three trophies,” Inzaghi said of Barcelona. “Facing them will take a great Inter performance.”

Fitness Updates On Lautaro & Pavard

MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 16: Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale celebrates with his team-mate Benjamin Pavard after scoring their team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final Second Leg match between FC Internazionale Milano and FC Bayern München at San Siro on April 16, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Then, Inzaghi gave updates on the status of Inter’s two most prominent fitness doubts: captain Lautaro Martinez and defender Benjamin Pavard.

“As far as Lautaro and Pavard, we’ll decide along with the coaching staff and the players.”

“For Pavard, yesterday the feelings were positive. And today, we’ll see how Lautaro is doing.”

Inzaghi noted that Martinez “hasn’t trained since the first leg.”

Meanwhile, Inzaghi said that “in the first leg we played a great match, but we could have done better.”

“We could have played with the ball more. Even if they’re very good on the counterattack.”

“Tomorrow will be like a final,” Inzaghi added. “There will be winner. Possibly even going to extra time and penalties.”

Inzaghi added that he is confident “because of the way that the team trained yesterday.”

“Winning the match against Verona seemed obvious. But we were two days off from facing Barcelona.”

‘I saw the physical and mental effort from the team,” said the Inter coach. “But also the concentration.”

“We trained yesterday,” added Inzaghi. “Everyone is giving me their all, even those who had played just the day before against Verona.”

“There’s nothing for me to say about the work that the guys are putting in,” said the Inter coach.

Inzaghi Admits 2023 Final Loss To Man City “Is Still With Us”

Inter Milan’s Italian midfielder Nicolo Barella reacts during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Inter Milan and FC Porto, on February 22, 2023 at the San Siro (Giuseppe-Meazza) stadium in Milan. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP) (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Inter coach Inzagh spoke about the 2023 Champions League final loss against Manchester City. “That thought is still with us,” he said.

“It was a tough night to digest. We played a great match.”

“But we live in the present,” said Inzaghi.

“That match is part of the journey that we’ve made over the last four years. But we want to keep going.”

“We’re two matches away from a possible trophy.”

“These are exciting matches. Titles and record are nice, and they’re what you work for.”

Inzaghi said that making history “repays” the work Inter have done to get here.

“It wasn’t a given,” the Nerazzurri coach went on. “Because at the start of the season, every team tries to win everything, not by grace, but through work.”

“We didn’t make any choices or put one competition before another,” the coach insisted. “This team wants to make the fans happy, who have never failed to give us their support.”

Inzaghi: Decision Tomorrow On Whether Lautaro Starts

MILAN, ITALY – AUGUST 30: Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale in action during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Atalanta BC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on August 30, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Then, the Inter coach gave his thoughts on whether Lautaro Martinez will play from the start or from the bench tomorrow evening.

“It will depend on how he’s feeling,” Inzaghi said.

“It’s difficult for a player who can’t start to come on and give us a hand for the last 25 minutes,” the coach added.

“Today’s training session will be very important for him, and for Pavard.”

The latter, Inzaghi noted, “wasn’t even with us in Barcelona. Then, Lauti had to come off.”

“We’ve always had a lot of injuries, as all teams do. Including Barca and Bayern, just looking at the last two teams we’ve faced.”

“We have a well-stocked squad,” Inzaghi insisted. “Tomorrow during the warm-ups I’ll try to make the right decisions.”

“Always for the good of Inter,” the coach said.

Inzaghi On Lewandowski Call-Up & Kounde Absence

DORTMUND, GERMANY – APRIL 15: Robert Lewandowski of FC Barcelona looks on during the warm up prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final Second Leg match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Barcelona at BVB Stadion Dortmund on April 15, 2025 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

Then, Inzaghi commented on the fact that striker Robert Lewandowski is back in Barcelona’s squad for tomorrow’s match. “We know him,” the Inter coach said.

“He’s among the three or four best strikers in the world.”

“In the first leg, Ferran Torres played. And he had a great match.”

“In their last five matches they’ve won without [Lewandowski],” Inzaghi noted. “He’s a top striker,  but Barca are just as strong.”

The Inter coach said that Lewandowski is “a player we have to pay special attention to.”

“Like Yamal. And the other players they have.”

“They’re among the best in the world.”

Then, of Barcelona missing defender Jules Kounde through injured, Inzaghi said that “he’s a great player, but he probably paid the price for playing more than a hundred consecutive matches and got injured.”

“On Sunday another player played in that position and did well,” the Inter coach said.

“Eric Garcia came on against us, and did well too,” Inzaghi added. “Barcelona have backups who are up to the task.

Inzaghi: “Need To Keep The Ball Away From Yamal”

BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 30: Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg match between FC Barcelona and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on April 30, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

The Inter coach then said that defending against Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal “is very difficult.”

“We’ll have to try not to let him get the ball. But it’s very difficult.”

“We’ll double up on him,” Inzaghi added. “We’ll try to keep an eye on him.”

“But as I said, in the first leg we saw him live. And in the first leg, we saw him live, he was very dangerous.”

“What impressed me most was his speed of thought,” Inzaghi said of Yamal. “As soon as he has the ball.”

“He’s a special player to watch. As are the others they have.”

“We’ll See Tomorrow” Whether Dimarco Or Augusto Start

MILAN, ITALY – MAY 03: Federico Dimarco of FC Internazionale in action during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Hellas Verona FC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on May 03, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Next, Inzaghi gave his thoughts on whether Federico Dimarco or Carlos Augusto will start tomorrow.

“We’ll see tomorrow,” the Inter coach said.

“They’ve played together on numerous occasions. So we’ll see.”

“It’s right to focus on [Lamine Yamal], but there are also other players who can create danger,” Inzaghi made clear.

“We’ll see if we can make some tactical changes,” Inzaghi added. “But our system is tried and tested.”

“This time we’re playing at home. But Barcelona’s numbers don’t change.”

The Nerazzurri coach made clear that “we played a great match” in the first leg.

“But we could have done better. As in every match.”

“You win some, and you lose some,” Inzaghi made clear. “But when you want to win, it makes it easier to analyze, improve, and move forward with the right mindset.”