Inzaghi focused on revamped Champions League, not 2023 final ´rematch´ with Man City

Simone Inzaghi is not treating Inter’s Champions League opener at Manchester City on Wednesday as a rematch of last year’s final.

The Scudetto winners were beaten 1-0 by Pep Guardiola’s side in the 2023 final as Rodri’s finish in Istanbul proved the difference.

Inzaghi is adamant that changes to the Champions League format and the fact that there is much less riding on the result make it very different to their previous encounter.

“Tomorrow starts a new Champions League, that will be very different,” the Inter head coach told a press conference on Tuesday.

“I re-watched [the final] a month ago when we were in training camp. I don’t think it’s a rematch because it’s not a final, it’s a group game in the new Champions League format.”

Inzaghi was enthusiastic about the changes to the format, with clubs playing eight matches in a 36-team league phase instead of the previous group stage.

But he said he was also aware of the burden on players from the amount of games they will now play after Man City midfielder Rodri said players were on the verge of going on strike.

Next Stop #UCL #ForzaInter #ManchesterCityInter | @Canali1934 pic.twitter.com/og3qd3ANg1

— Inter (@Inter) September 17, 2024

“We know that you play a lot and we coaches are aware of that. I can say that preparing these games for a coach is beautiful and exciting,” Inzaghi added.

“I know there are problems, but we are counting on getting through. I will have to alternate as many players as possible, we are without [Federico] Dimarco and [Marko] Arnautovic, but we have been used to having a sometimes limited rotation for two years now.”

Inzaghi added that he was pushing his team to be aggressive and determined despite City having not lost at home in the competition since 2018.

“We will need a lot of components to make a great match,” he concluded.