Inter Milan Coach Confirms Ex Napoli & PSV Stars To Start Champions League Clash Vs Red Star Belgrade

Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi has confirmed that Piotr Zielinski and Denzel Dumfries will start against Red Star Belgrade tomorrow.

The Nerazzurri coach gave his thoughts in a press conference ahead of the match, as reported by FCInterNews. He also admitted that his team need to work on conceding fewer goals.

Tomorrow, Inter return to action in the Champions League.

The Nerazzurri play their first home fixture in Europe’s biggest club competition for the season. They host Serbian giants Red Star Belgrade.

Inter got a precious point away to Manchester City in their first match of the competition.

But now, the Nerazzurri will feel that they need to start getting wins if they’re to hope to finish in the top eight of the “league phase” of the competition’s new format.

Inter coach Inzaghi will at the same time be looking to balance the Champions League with Serie A, however.

Inter Coach Inzaghi: “Zielinski & Dumfries Will Start” Vs Red Star

One player who will definitely start tomorrow is former Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski.

“Zielinski will definitely play tomorrow,” said Inter coach Inzaghi.

“Then I’m evaluating the other two spots in midfield. Calhanoglu or Asllani, and Mkhitaryan or Frattesi.”

Meanwhile, Inzaghi said of wingback Denzel Dumfries that “His new contract hasn’t been confirmed yet, but it looks very likely.”

“I’m happy about that,” the Inter coach added. “He’s a top player.”

“He’ll definitely play tomorrow, as with Zielinski,” he said of Dumfries.

Inzaghi noted that “I still have to decide in attack.”

“Any of the four strikers could play,” the coach said. “But I don’t know who will start yet.”

“We’ll see based on the last couple training sessions.”

Inzaghi commented that “We need everyone because this season is even tougher than ever.”

“Thinking about these two-three match sequences in quick succession is something I’ve never done before,” the Nerazzurri coach noted.

“I have to make decisions.”

As far as how the new Champions League format changes things for Inter, Inzaghi said that “Time will tell.”

“We’ve always gotten past the group stage reasonably comfortably,” he noted.

“But this season we can’t make calculations.”

“We need to focus right from the first couple matches. Including tomorrow.”

Inzaghi noted that “Red Star have already played nine league matches and also the Champions League playoffs.”

“They’re a well-organized and well-coached team with great players,” he said of the Serbian side.

“No Comment” On Ultras Scandal

Meanwhile, Inzaghi also was asked a question about the scandal involving members of Inter ultras group the Curva Nord.

Anti-mafia prosecutors investigated nine members of Inter and AC Milan’s ultras groups for involvement in alleged illegal ticket sales today.

However, Inter’s coach made clear that “The club asked me not to say anything about that.”

“The investigation is ongoing,” he noted.

Of the pressure this season after last campaign’s Serie A dominance, Inzaghi commented that “Winning his hard, and winning again is even harder.”

“The guys are working with complete commitment. We still lack the consistency we had last season, and we have to find it in training.”

“All the teams have struggled,” Inzaghi noted.

“They’re still trying to improve, and so are we.”

“On Saturday the guys played a great match,” the Inter coach said of his team’s Serie A win over Udinese. “We talked about the two goals that we conceded; they’re a reason for analysis.”

“Because we always have to improve.”

Inzaghi Stresses Need For Inter To Improve Defensive Concentration

Inzaghi gave his thoughts on the goals that Inter conceded against Udinese.

“On the first one Thuram steps up,” he said. “The team has to step up together, clear the penalty area.”

“Along with Dimarco, another player is needed. The team has to position themselves better.”

“And then on the second, I’ve read that it’s the fault of one player, but once again it’s a collective error,” Inzaghi argued.

“I’ve read that there’s an error by Acerbi. Calhanoglu. Bisseck, Darmian. De Vrij.”

“But it’s the fault of all five,” the Inter coach argued. “But also of the forwards, because we conceded a goal from a clearance by the goalkeeper.”

“Everyone could have done better,” Inzaghi argued. “The forwards, the wingbacks, Bisseck in the first line of defense.”

“Acerbi doesn’t need to double up there. Calhanoglu can’t slide in like that. De Vrij and Darmian are too open.”

“It was something to analyze, and the team understood it and analyzed it as well as possible,” Inzaghi said.

Of the need for greater defensive concentration, Inzaghi said “That’s very important.”

“Frattesi’s right when he says that there are principles and then moments when the team has to be more compact.”

“This Saturday we saw the usual Inter,” Inzaghi said. “But I already saw them against City, against Atalanta and Lecce.”

“We don’t have to keep conceding like this,” he noted. “I think last season we were conceding the same expected goals.”

“It’s probably a moment where we just have to concentrate more,” said Inzaghi.