Inzaghi: "We've been on an incredible journey. Now, one final step remains"

The countdown to Munich has begun: the week leading up to the 2024/25 Champions League final between PSG and Inter is underway. Today, at the BPER Training Centre in Appiano Gentile, the official Media Open Day for the match has been taking place. As part of the events, Simone Inzaghi held a press conference, with the Inter head coach having the following to say to the journalists present:

How are you approaching the match? "It’s been two years since I last held a press conference before a Champions League final, and I feel a deep sense of emotion. We’ve reached a wonderful milestone and played some incredible games, but we know one final step remains to fulfill a dream and make history. Starting from today, we’ll prepare as best as we can. The league has left its mark on us - there’s no denying it. There’s a lot of pain within me and the players. I want to congratulate Napoli because it was a championship fought point by point. We fell narrowly short, but this isn’t the right moment to discuss that."

What differences do you see compared to the lead-up to the Istanbul final? "I'm still figuring that out. We finished our league season on Friday, and our week starts today. My hope is to have all the players available. We're optimistic about Pavard and Zielinski. We’ll approach the game in the best way possible: we're focused and will try to deliver a great performance in the final."

How important will heart be in this match? "It'll be crucial. This team has always shown great heart on the pitch. I’m proud to coach a group like this. We'll be up against a strong team, as was the case against Barcelona and others. There will be tough moments, but we have to manage them well. These are two sides - Inter and PSG - who have reached the final twice in the space of a few years."

Who has the better frame of mind for the final: PSG, with their recent success, or you, driven by hunger to win? "Reaching two finals in three years is a rare achievement, but we need to perform well on Saturday in order to make history. PSG will face a team with the same goal, determined to deliver a great performance in the final."

Is it harder to prepare for a match against PSG compared to Barcelona? "PSG are an excellent team with incredibly strong players. They have quality, a coach who has instilled clear playing principles and experience in finals. We will prepare as best as we can, knowing it will take a great Inter performance to win."

Do certain rumours risk affecting your focus? "Fortunately, my club knows me well. Every year, there are offers from Italy and abroad, but I think it would be crazy to think about that now. After the final, we'll sit down and talk with a single goal in mind, and this always applies: the good of Inter."

The whole world is watching you - how do you handle the pressure? Will you be able to sleep the night before? "It won’t be a night like any other. The Champions League final is the match every coach and player in the world dreams of being involved in. As a player, I reached the quarter-finals; as a coach, thanks to this group of players, I have the chance to compete in a final for the second time, and we will give it our all."

What’s the difference between PSG, Bayern and Barcelona? "They're all top-class teams; nothing really changes. We’ll be facing a complete team with a very deep squad, but they’ll also have to pay close attention to Inter, who have earned their place in the final after an outstanding journey. Now, there are just the final 90 minutes left. It's a match where key moments will be decisive, and we’ll need to try to tip those moments in our favour."

Lautaro played against Barcelona despite the fact he was struggling with injury. How is he doing now? "He’s fine. He was available for our match against Como and will have a normal training week. Before Como, both he and Frattesi gave me the impression they were 100% ready, but, given how the game unfolded, I decided to delay their return."

PSG are considered the favourites - how do you overturn that prediction? "The spirit we have could be something that helps us. In finals, you always face top opponents, but we've already come up against great teams. In the final, there's no room for mistakes - we'll need intensity, determination and all the qualities this team has shown throughout our journey."

How is the team heading into the final? "These players have been extraordinary over the past four years. It’s a fantastic group, and what I appreciate most is their sense of belonging - their connection to this shirt and this Club. I like the way they stick together on the pitch: the joy in victories and the tears in defeats, like we saw on Friday. What happened in the league is tough to swallow, but we move forward with pride and our heads held high. I saw the players again today, and they looked good. We have a huge game ahead of us, and this group has always made me feel something - I believe they’ll do the same on Saturday."

Over the past four years, this team has achieved important results. Maybe you’ll be able to do things that weren’t possible before in the transfer market this summer... "The bond between all of us - between myself and the club, which is also represented here today - is very important. Our main focus is Inter. We know how important this team is, and when the time is right, we’ll sit down and talk about what’s best for the Club. However, for now, we have the match on Saturday, and it's THE match."

What do you think of Conte’s comments about the league and the Champions League? "Everyone is entitled to their own opinion - what matters is intellectual honesty. The Champions League is becoming more demanding, and unexpected events can always happen. Both competitions can be affected by a suspension, an injury, a penalty or the fixture list. However, Champions League matches are undoubtedly tougher than those in the league."

What has Carlos Augusto’s role been in this European campaign? "Credit should go to the club for bringing him in - it was a great move, and he’s given us so much. He's had two excellent seasons. He's a physical and technically sound player who can play as part of a three-man backline and as a wing-back. I already knew he was good, but coaching him made me realise it even more. He's a player you can truly rely on, and I believe Ancelotti will be watching him closely - he deserves it."

PSG played their previous final with a different coach and different players. Your squad, on the other hand, is largely the same - can that desire for redemption be a driving force? "Yes, the fact we played in a previous final can definitely help. We're aware of that, but we also know that we'll be up against top-level players and a coach who has already won this competition. We'll be facing a very strong side."

Inter arrived in Istanbul as outsiders. This time, the journey has been different. What’s changed? "The road to Istanbul wasn’t easy, and, in many ways, the two paths have been quite similar. Of course, we remember the last two matches, but right now the future is all about PSG. We’ll need to approach the game with the right motivation and focus, and I know these things won't be lacking in our players."

How much could this trophy change how the season is judged? "It'd make all the difference in the world, but I agree with what Farris said on Friday. The boys have been extraordinary - we've done everything we could, played 59 matches and given absolutely everything without ever looking for excuses. We've been on an exciting journey in the Coppa Italia, the league and the Champions League."