Inzaghi: Milan derby approach, Inter injuries and Leao threat: ‘They create problems’ | OneFootball

Simone Inzaghi is seeking revenge against Milan in the Coppa Italia semi-final on Wednesday night, having failed to beat the Rossoneri in any of their three previous meetings this season, and has explained what the Nerazzurri need to do to put one foot in the final coming up in May.

Inter and Milan will meet again for the fourth time in 2024-25 for the Coppa Italia semi-final first leg in San Siro on Wednesday night. The second legs will be played on April 24 and the eventual winners will go on to face either Empoli or Bologna in the final.

“We know the importance of tomorrow’s match, it’s a Coppa Italia semi-final against Milan, it’s a derby. There’s a desire to play a good game, knowing that we’ll be up against a quality opponent who have created lots of problems this season, not just for us,” Inzaghi said during his pre-match press conference on Tuesday.

MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: Simone Inzaghi, Head Coach of FC Internazionale, reacts during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Genoa at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on February 22, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“We know we’ve found it difficult this year, especially in the first one. The other two were more balanced, decided by in-game events. Tomorrow will be the fourth, then there will be the fifth, normally we get two.”

Inzaghi gives Inter injury update

Inzaghi went on to provide an update on the current Nerazzurri injury situation. Lautaro Martinez and Mehdi Taremi are both ruled out, which leaves three senior strikers available. The coach has confirmed that there will be a Primavera attacker in Wednesday’s squad.

Alessandro Bastoni is also expected to be return, but otherwise, the coach was unwilling to give away too much about his starting line-up.

“I can’t help you on the line-up. I’ve chosen the goalkeeper, but I have not told the players yet, and I prefer to communicate that to them first. There will be no Asllani, Bastoni will return and we will have to evaluate De Vrij. Taremi will not be there, we are more or less the same as we were on Sunday, with Bastoni in and Asllani out.

Alessandro Bastoni of FC Internazionale reacts during the Coppa Italia, Round of 16 match between FC Internazionale and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on December 19, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“We didn’t need the set-back that Taremi had, playing the second hame with his national team. Without Lautaro tomorrow we will have to play with three strikers, we will bring a Primavera striker to the bench who won’t play as much in the Youth League today.”

Asked if there is a plan regarding Lautaro Martinez, who remains out injured, Inzaghi replied: “To have him available in Parma on Saturday, but we have to see day-by-day. You make plans in your head, then you get set-backs. He’s doing fine, he’s working hard, if it were up to him, we all know that he’d want to be out there immediately, but unfortunately he had that problem against Atalanta.”

Inzaghi on Inter-Milan meetings, 2024-25 review, Leao threat

How has Inzaghi viewed the 2024-25 on the whole?

“The goal was to be in the running in all competitions in April. We know that the difficult part is yet to come, but it’s a source of great pride to still be in all competitions. It will take a lot of physical and mental energy, but that’s what we wanted. Every game is important.”

MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 11: Players of FC Internazionale greet their fans after their victory in the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 Second Leg match between FC Internazionale Milano and Feyenoord at Stadio San Siro on March 11, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Inzaghi gave his assessment of Inter’s previous meeting with Milan this season: “We know that it will be a challenge that will be played over 180 minutes. It’s not a league game, there will be a second leg at the end of April. But there is always a desire to approach the games well. It’s not easy, but we want to do that tomorrow night as well.

“We’ve alternated against Milan: We had an excellent first half in Riyadh and were not up to par in the second. We didn’t approach it well in the league, but had an excellent second half.”

Inzaghi went on to give his assessment on Milan this season, who have achieved impressive victories over the likes of Inter and Real Madrid this term, but currently sit in ninth place in the Serie A standings.

“I start with the assumption that they’re a strong, quality team, who can trouble any opponent. We saw them in their last game, the derbies against us, the game against Real Madrid. They are a quality team, which has had difficult moments this season, but they’ve worried teams in individual games. It will take a lot of attention, knowing that both teams will want to play the final in Rome.”

And when asked how important a player Rafael Leao is for his opponents, Inzaghi replied: “He’s an excellent player, we’ve been going up against him for many years. He has a lot of quality, but I don’t think we can stop at Leao alone, Milan have a lot of great players to keep track of at all times. They can always create problems for you.”