Inzaghi explains surprising Inter choices against Manchester City | OneFootball

Simone Inzaghi explains why he leaves Lautaro Martinez on the bench as Inter visit Manchester City in the Champions League. ‘I asked the team to play our football.’

It kicks off at the Etihad Stadium at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Bologna-Shakhtar Donetsk on the LIVEBLOG.

These sides last met in the 2023 Champions League Final, which was decided by a single Rodri goal in Istanbul.

Both teams won their league title last season, but while Manchester City have won every game this term, the Nerazzurri played two home wins and two away draws.

“I asked the team to play our football. We know the strength of our opponents, but we also know what we can do and prepared in the best possible way,” Inzaghi told Amazon Prime Video Italia.

“We must show character when controlling the ball. When they have possession, it won’t be easy to get it off them, but when we’ve got it, we have to make the most of those situations.”

Inzaghi forced to reshuffle in Manchester

Federico Dimarco, Marko Arnautovic and Tajon Buchanan did not make the trip, while Lautaro Martinez is on the bench, as he is not at 100 per cent ahead of Sunday’s Derby della Madonnina against Milan.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan also drops to the bench in favour of summer signing Piotr Zielinski.

“I made certain choices. Lautaro did not train and has travelled a lot in recent weeks. Taremi came back from international duty like Lautaro, but did not play as much, so he can give us a hand,” explained the coach.

“I liked the way Zielinski played against Monza, he needs to get some games under his belt.”