A downsized budget has made it “difficult” to close the gap to European giants, but Inter can take pride in having remained competitive, insisted Simone Inzaghi on Monday.
The Nerazzurri face Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday in the first leg of a tantalising UEFA Champions League quarter-final affair, and Inzaghi conceded that the German side “are the favourites for the tie”.
“The lads know everything about what we have given to be here. We deserve to be in the quarter-finals,” he told reporters in his pre-match press conference, confirming that Inter “have to approach this as a team to try and get a result at a difficult stadium to visit.”
Inter suffered a 2-0 defeat to Bayern when the sides met in the group stage of the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League, in a match that caused Inzaghi to admit that the Germans were unplayable.
But his side “have grown” in the years that have followed, and “in the regular season, we have done better than they have,” he proclaimed. That’s particularly impressive, the 49-year-old says, given Inter’s financial situation in recent years.
Asked how difficult it is for Italian teams to remain competitive with clubs like Bayern, the former striker revealed: “It’s really difficult, [but] for us, it’s been easy to stay competitive at all times.”
“There’s been a downsizing in the budget but Inter have stayed near the top thanks to these brilliant players and our club. Staying so competitive with the downsizing seen in these four years is like having won another trophy.”
“It’s a source of pride for everyone,” he added.
Bayern Munich host Inter at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday 8th April, with kickoff scheduled for 20:00 BST [21:00 CEST].