Simone Inzaghi has praised his players after Inter Milan defeated Barcelona in an unforgettable thirteen-goal thriller in the Champions League semi-final.
Inter went into the second needing a big performance and made a bright start at the San Siro.
Lautaro Martinez opened the scoring with a well-worked goal before Hakan Calhanoglu converted from the penalty spot to make it 5-3 on aggregate.
However, Barcelona responded strongly in the second half. They levelled the tie before Raphinha made it 6-5 in the 87th minute.
But Inter had the final say. Francesco Acerbi equalised in the first minute of added time. Davide Frattesi netted the winner in extra-time to seal an incredible 7-6 victory for the Italian side.
Inter show heart and quality in famous victory
After the final whistle, Inzaghi praised both sides for delivering a classic match. He was particularly impressed by his own team’s character and fighting spirit.
“First of all, I have to congratulate Barcelona – a really strong team,” Inzaghi said.
He highlighted his pride in his team’s display and their effort on such a big stage.
“It took a super Inter – a round of applause for these guys, who put in two monstrous performances,” he added.
“I’m happy to be their coach. They gave me everything they had. It’s right that they enjoy their success in this stadium.”
The Inter manager also revealed how his players had to overcome several problems during the contest. He credited their determination and quality for getting through it.
“We had some problems, but with heart, we went over every obstacle,” said Inzaghi. “We tried to play it with the qualities we have.”
Inzaghi also spoke about their approach to the match and the importance of unity within the team.
“After the first leg, we had the game plan in mind, but without the sacrifice and the help of all of us together, you can’t do it,” he said. “They [the players] deserve this final.”
