Inter focused after Champions League drama

Inter Milan manager Leonardo has praised his side’s ability to focus as they prepare to host Lecce on Sunday.

In a vital encounter, Inter will look to win their ninth successive Serie A match at the San Siro and keep the pressure on table-toppers and city rivals AC Milan.

The match comes in the same week that Inter overturned a 1-0 first-leg defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League Round of 16 with a superb 3-2 away win at the Allianz Arena.

The victory came thanks to goals from Wesley Sneijder and Goran Pandev in the last half an hour as Inter’s hopes of retaining their European crown remained alive and when asked to reflect on the win, Leonardo spoke in glowing terms of his team.

“I think that the best quality of this team is the mental concentration, which they’re able to always keep,” Leonardo said.

“The team is able to manage every moment and be focused. This is the basis, then there is also a positive enthusiasm, which is not one which we’re afraid of feeling.”

“I believe that the guys have the same enthusiasm, which should always be managed and should be balanced with the right concentration. This is the basis, then everything can happen.”

While Leonardo says there was ‘euphoria’ after the result, he maintains his side are focused and prepared ahead of the visit of Lecce on Sunday.

“We’ve all been focused during the training sessions after the match against Bayern Munich and we’ve been very concentrated today as well and have had an important training session,” he said.

“I believe that Lecce have improved in the last matches, not only their results, but also the number of goals they have scored.”