“We Deserved to Make the Final, and De Jong Impressed Me”
Inter coach Simone Inzaghi expressed his belief that the team rightfully earned their spot in the Champions League final, highlighting his admiration for Frenkie de Jong among the adversaries.
This victory marks Inter’s second appearance in the final of the prestigious European tournament in three years, following a thrilling 4-3 win against Barcelona after extra time in the crucial second leg in Milan.
The initial encounter in Barcelona concluded in a 3-3 draw.
“We must give credit to Barcelona; they are a formidable opponent. We needed to be outstanding in both legs. I take pride in my players; they committed fully, and those who came off the bench contributed positively. I encouraged the players to have faith that we could contend with Barcelona, even though it was no easy task. Martinez, Dumfries, and Fratesi were not fully fit, but we played with passion and overcame every challenge,” Inzaghi stated.
The Inter coach further emphasized that the team relied on their strengths, maintaining a humble approach throughout.
“We poured our hearts into this effort and rightfully made it to the final,” Inzaghi remarked.
While much of the pre-match focus was on Barcelona striker Lamine Jamal, who had posed significant challenges for Inter’s defense in the first leg, Inzaghi chose to highlight another player from Barcelona.
“There has been a lot of discussion about Jamal, but I was just as, if not more, impressed by Frenkie de Jong. He has an exceptional ability to distribute the ball, with an excellent understanding of passing and game rhythm—he was remarkable. Undoubtedly, I wouldn’t trade any of my players, but De Jong was outstanding in these two fixtures,” Inzaghi commented.
Inter will face the victor of the two-legged clash between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, scheduled for May 31 in Munich.
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