Inzaghi: Inter needs head and heart to beat Milan

will face their rivals

in Serie A on Sunday. Inter is in second place and Milan is fifth after four games without a win.

In his pre-match press conference,

talked about the importance of the Derby della Madonnina and the recent victory against Milan in the Supercoppa Italiana.

“We know, the derby is a game we all feel very strongly about. We’ll need head and heart, we’ll arrive ready to give everything on the pitch and happy with qualification for the Coppa Italia semi-final, but we’ll think about that in April.

“Well, clearly derbies are all stories in themselves. In this year and a half, we’ve played many of them, six. The cup ones allowed us to win two important trophies, the league ones were disappointments, starting with the first one where we drew by missing a penalty.

“The best solution is to face them with the right concentration, you risk arriving at the match with a lot of mental energy spent.”

Inzaghi refused to say if his team’s objective is Champions League qualification, or they still think about winning the Serie A.

“At this stage of the season every point is very important for any objective, we know tomorrow what it represents.”

Inter manager believes Romelu Lukaku is getting back to his best.

“Romelu in my opinion had a very good game, on the rise, against Atalanta, the more time passed the more he’s improved.

“That’s my hope, I hope to get everyone into a condition where they can all start from the beginning. He’s growing, like Correa…

“Now I think I’ll get Brozovic and Handanovic back for tomorrow, even though there are two training sessions to go.”

Inzaghi also confirmed that Milan Skriniar will be in the squad for the derby, but he will no longer wear the club’s captain armband.

“I don’t judge his choices but the man and the player, who are unique. He’s a wonderful guy, who works very well every day. He’ll probably be a starter tomorrow.

“We have hierarchies based on appearances, because of what happened he will no longer be the captain.

“It was discussed very calmly with the club and the player, the captain is Handanovic, then we’ll go down based on appearances with Brozovic, D’Ambrosio, Lautaro. The thing that matters most to me is the game.”

Inzaghi was asked why Inter has recently been more successful against Milan in the cups rather than Serie A.

‘It’s the data… As you said, they are clear. Last year there was a two-point difference in the league, this year there are two points, and we did better in the cup games. I don’t expect Milan to be underwhelming, I respect them a lot as a team.”

Inter is 13 points behind league leaders Napoli after 20 matches.

“It doesn’t change anything, on the single game. We know there’s this gap, at this moment of the season every point is fundamental for any objective, whether it’s bringing Napoli closer or pulling away from the pursuers.”

The former Lazio manager went on to talk about Lukaku’s injuries and his struggles on the pitch this season.

“Yes, clearly I talk to Romelu a lot, it’s a new thing for him and I’ve been through it, after 26 I had several problems, he never had so many of these problems, he came back after the injury and now he’s trying to get back to his best. The last few weeks are positive.

“What Inter are playing for is something that concerns him, I talk to him every day and he is sorry because he hasn’t been able to make the contribution he wanted to make, it wasn’t down to him and now he is working at his best.

“The goal is to get him to the end without any more delays. Then at the top we all know what a player he is.”

Inzaghi praised Lautaro Martinez and said he is playing at a great level in the last 12 months.

“In my opinion, he’s been playing like this for a good year now, regardless of whether it’s the World Cup or not. In the last twelve months he has had a constant and high performance, he has deserved it for the way he works.

“The first three months last year he wasn’t in such great shape, but it happens to everyone. Since January last year it’s been a calendar and footballing year, he’s been performing at a great level and let’s hope it continues that way.”

Inzaghi also said he respects Milan, and they are still a quality team despite their recent results.

“Derbies are special matches. Milan are not in a positive moment, but we are talking about the Italian champions, who made it to the Round of 16 of the Champions League after a long time.

“They have quality and I respect them a lot, we know that we will find them in a particular moment and we come from the Supercoppa final. We will need a lot of running and determination, together with a lot of attention.”

Follow

for the