Inzaghi thriving under pressure after Inter banish Derby d´Italia demons

Simone Inzaghi apologised for Derby d’Italia defeat to Juventus but insisted he welcomes pressure after Inter responded with a resounding victory over Bologna on Wednesday.

Inter were under scrutiny heading to San Siro after a 2-0 reverse in Turin on Sunday and fell behind to Bologna after Charalampos Lykogiannis’s fortuitous 22nd-minute opener.

But the reigning Serie A champions bounced back in style, with Federico DiMarco scoring a brace along with goals for Edin Dzeko, Lautaro Martinez, Hakan Calhanoglu and Robin Gosens in a 6-1 win.

A dominant performance saw Inter climb into the top four and move within three points of second-placed Milan, with Inzaghi suggesting the pressure that followed the defeat to Juventus does not affect him.

“I was very sorry for Sunday’s defeat. I have always had pressure since I played, and then as a coach,” the Inter boss told DAZN after the game.

“There is an excellent relationship with the management, we always talk to each other in victories and defeats.

“What pleases me is that, in victories and defeats, I have a management – and I am speaking of the directors [Beppe] Marotta, [Piero] Ausilio, and [Dario] Baccin – that are very transparent.

“I like them – they are direct and if they need to tell you something, they say it clearly. I have an excellent relationship with them.”

Well, that was fun #InterBologna 6-1 (FT) #ForzaInter pic.twitter.com/N4e5csfySF

— Inter (@Inter_en) November 9, 2022

Kristjan Asllani and Roberto Gagliardini both played important roles as substitutes in the absence of the injured Marcelo Brozovic and Romelu Lukaku, with Inzaghi highlighting the importance of squad depth.

“It’s never easy for us coaches. We make choices every day. We played 20 games, 18 without Lukaku and 14 without Brozovic, two very important players for us,” he said.

“We have missed them but thanks to everyone we have made an amazing path in the Champions League.

“In the league we have lost some points that hurt us but now we have to transfer what we do at San Siro to the games away from home.”

Inter visit Atalanta on Sunday for their final Serie A match before the World Cup break as they aim to cut the gap on leaders Napoli, who they trail by 11 points.