Inzaghi: ‘Inter stepped up a gear, Lautaro Martinez must relax’ | OneFootball

Simone Inzaghi congratulated Como for their performance, but assures Inter just had to ‘step up a gear’ to take the 2-0 win and tells Lautaro Martinez to ‘relax.’

The Nerazzurri were not at their best this evening at San Siro, but still came away with all three points and a 2-0 victory over Como thanks to the Carlos Augusto header on a corner and late Marcus Thuram scorcher into the near top corner.

Cesc Fabregas changed his system to three at the back in order to mirror Inter and largely neutralised the reigning Champions of Italy, as Carlos Augusto made a decisive interception to prevent what would’ve been an Edoardo Goldaniga equaliser.

“We must congratulate Como, because they played positive football here, but Inter were always concentrated and allowed them very little,” Inzaghi told Sky Sport Italia.

“We weren’t quite as sharp as usual in the first half, and the pitch was not in great condition either as it will be re-laid next week. We were up against a team that ran hard, but knew that once we stepped up a gear, we could take control and that is what happened.”

Thuram already had a great debut season at Inter, but has gone from strength to strength and is now joint Capocannoniere on 12 Serie A goals.

“He worked hard along with his teammates and all the staff. He always trains well, immediately settled into our tactics and he knows that he must keep doing that. He is helping us a great deal at the moment, has quality and needs to just carry on,” assured Inzaghi.

Inzaghi trying to rotate Inter squad

MILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 23: Marcus Thuram of FC Internazionale scores his team’s second goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Como at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on December 23, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Davide Frattesi was tipped to start today, but only came on as a late substitute, so does the Italy international have a future at Inter with so little playing time?

“There is competition for places at Inter, on Thursday he and Zielinski played 90 minutes in the Coppa Italia. I have to make daily choices for the good of Inter, they have to keep working like this and everyone will get their chance,” replied Inzaghi.

“We must take it one game at a time, as there are so many fixtures close together. We are trying to rotate and know that this is an unusual season with the Supercoppa, then the Club World Cup in the summer. De Vrij grit his teeth and helped us in the last 20 minutes, we are a little short in defence with players who have to work more than we’d like.”

Lautaro Martinez again failed to find the net and at times went for goal rather than pass to teammates, so is that a sign he is lacking in confidence?

“I was a striker, I know these moments happen,” insisted Inzaghi.

“On Monday, Lautaro was one of the most positive performers against Lazio. The forwards are working hard, we ask a lot of them and are trying to rest them as much as possible in the circumstances.

“I told Lautaro to relax, because he has always scored goals and always will, luck will turn and he should only be worried if he doesn’t get scoring opportunities.”

This result means Inter go into the Christmas holidays in third place, although they are only three points off leaders Atalanta with a game in hand, so could in theory be joint top.