MILAN — As the San Siro erupted around him, Simone Inzaghi allowed himself a rare moment of raw emotion. His Inter Milan side had just dethroned European giants Barcelona in a Champions League semifinal for the ages, and the normally reserved coach had one clear message: “This is why I believe in these players like no one else.”
In a post-match interview dripping with vindication, Inzaghi told reporters: “People questioned if we could do it. They said Barcelona had more quality, more stars. But I’ve always known what these players carry in their hearts. Tonight, they proved me right yet again.”
The 47-year-old tactician, often overshadowed by more glamorous peers, delivered a masterclass in man-management as Inter overcame a second-half Barcelona onslaught before winning 4-3 in extra time.
“I don’t care about the comparisons,” Inzaghi said when asked about Barcelona’s much-vaunted squad. “For two years now, these players have shown me something you can’t measure with statistics. When we were hanging on at 3-3, I looked in their eyes and saw absolute certainty. That’s worth more than any transfer fee.”
Inzaghi reserved special praise for match-winner Davide Frattesi, calling him “the perfect example of what makes this team different.” The substitute’s 112th-minute strike capped a performance that embodied Inzaghi’s core philosophy.
“He’s not always a starter, but he’s always ready,” the coach said. “That’s our secret – everyone believes, everyone fights. I’d take this spirit over individual talent any day.”
As for his own contribution, the typically humble coach cracked a rare smile: “My job is easy when I have warriors like this. They make every decision I make look good.”
With Inter now heading to their first Champions League final in over a decade, Inzaghi’s final words carried the weight of a man who’d been vindicated: “This is why I never doubt them. And they never doubt me. That’s how we make the impossible happen.”
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