Inter Milan head coach Simone Inzaghi says his side’s impressive journey to the Champions League final has instilled the belief needed to overcome a formidable Paris Saint-Germain in Saturday’s decider in Munich.
“Every Champions League match brings excitement, but the final is something special,” Inzaghi said during his pre-match press conference at the Allianz Arena. “We deserve to be here — we’ve shown real hunger from our very first game in Manchester.”
Inter kicked off their European campaign with a 0-0 draw against Manchester City, in a rematch of the 2023 final in which they narrowly lost. From there, the Nerazzurri went on an outstanding run, finishing fourth in the new 36-team league phase, suffering just one defeat and conceding only a single goal in eight matches.
Knockout wins over Feyenoord, Bayern Munich, and a dramatic semifinal triumph over Barcelona have propelled the Italian giants to their second final in three seasons.
“These were huge opponents, so our place in the final is well earned,” Inzaghi said. “Now we must take the final step — the hardest and most important one.”
Inzaghi dismissed ongoing speculation about his future and instead focused on the task at hand. Inter are expected to field a largely familiar lineup, with seven of the starters from their 2023 final set to take the field again — experience Inzaghi believes could be vital against PSG’s youthful, high-flying squad.
“Every final is different, often decided by small moments,” he added. “Two years ago, we weren’t favourites against City, but we matched them on the pitch — maybe we even deserved more.”
The Italian side, three-time European champions (1964, 1965, 2010), are aiming to capture their fourth continental crown. They enter the match having just missed out on the Serie A title, finishing behind Napoli — a domestic blow Inzaghi insists his squad has moved beyond.
“The psychological aspect is crucial,” he said. “The players have worked incredibly hard, and we’ve put the disappointment of the league behind us.”
With a fully fit squad available, Inzaghi emphasized the importance of balance: “It’s up to me to choose the right team. The players shouldn’t be obsessed — they just need the right amount of determination.”
