Simone Inzaghi commended Mehdi Taremi for his impressive full debut for Inter in their 2-0 victory over Lecce, but emphasized the need for the team to avoid reliance on any single player.
Following their unexpected 2-2 draw against Genoa, this was Inter’s first win of the season. They secured the victory with an early header from Matteo Darmian and a penalty by Hakan Calhanoglu at San Siro.
“We need to maintain our hunger, and I have no doubts about the team’s commitment as they are training well. Despite conceding two preventable goals in the match against Genoa, I believe we played well,” Inzaghi told Sky Sport Italia.
Inzaghi highlighted the importance of collective effort, noting that this win came without captain Lautaro Martinez, who missed the game due to pain. Taremi paired with Marcus Thuram in his absence.
“Lautaro woke up with discomfort on Friday morning, so with the medical staff, we chose not to risk him. He wanted to play, but it’s early in the season, and we aim to have him fully fit for next Friday,” Inzaghi explained.
He also discussed potential squad rotation for the Champions League, stressing that the team must not become dependent on individual players like Lautaro, Barella, or Calhanoglu. “We won last season because everyone contributed. I appreciated Taremi’s effort throughout the game, and Marko Arnautovic brought great energy when he came on,” Inzaghi said.
Piotr Zielinski, still awaiting his Inter debut due to injury, along with Stefan de Vrij and Tajon Buchanan, were not available for this match. “I had eight players on the bench and told them to warm up at half-time. I have the flexibility to make choices, and the team is professional and focused on the group’s success,” he added.
Inzaghi acknowledged that while Inter were dominant last season, Serie A teams have made significant changes, including Juventus’s new acquisitions of Nico Gonzalez and Francisco Conceicao. “We must focus on ourselves. Other teams are strengthening, and playing in August’s heat presents challenges, even in seemingly easier fixtures,” he noted.
“I saw the right level of concentration and commitment from the team in both matches this season,” Inzaghi concluded.
Inter performance and stats
Inter is currently 1st in the Serie A with 4 points.
In the last 2 games, it has won once and drawn once. In its last match, Inter won 2-0 against Lecce.
It has a positive goal difference after scoring 4 goals and conceding 2.
Inter will play the next match in Serie A against Atalanta on Friday 30th of August in Milano.