Simone Inzaghi urged Inter to be more competitive and focused when they face AC Milan on Sunday, after having played badly in the first two Derbies this season.
Inter lost 2-1 to Milan in September when Matteo Gabbia sustained a late winner before he suffered a dramatic 3-2 defeat of Sergio Conukicao in the Supercoppa Italiana in January.
Inter had only two of the previous 13 Milan derbys lost before the start of this season (W9 D2), while since 2011 they have not lost three in a row to their rivals.
“We know the value of the opponent, this year the first two derby's went badly. The first because Milan did well,” Inzaghi said reporters on Saturday.
“In the second, in Riyad, we were in control and we had to be better in the incidents: the first goal was infected by an error [Kristjan] Asllani.
“We have to respond, we have to be better in the decisive moments of the game that can turn against you in football.”
Inter has won 70 games and scored 259 goals in the Serie A against Milan, more than any other side in the competition. On the other hand, they have drawn 56 games against the Rossoneri, more than any other opponent in the Italian flight.
Siamo Solo Noifor de Stad, for the fans, for our colors pic.twitter.com/y99nwwmbfi
– Inter (@inter_en) February 1, 2025
Inzaghi said that Inter had played 16 games in the past two months and a crowded Serie A-calendar, together with their Coppa Italia quarterfinals planned against Lazio before 25 February, would prevent the team from performing at their peak.
After the Milan Derby, Inter Host Fiorentina on 10 February in a rear -up match that was suspended in December after midfielder Edoardo Bove's collapse.
“We played sixteen games in two months … Now we have the [rearranged game] With Fiorentina and the Coppa Italia on a certain date: it will prevent us from working at our best as we thought, but it doesn't depend on us, “said Inzaghi.
“As for [the Fiorentina game]They have determined this date that we did not expect. The date of the Coppa Italia could have been different, but we know that we also had to run in February.
“We thought it would enable us to work differently in the top eight of the Champions League, instead we will do it in January.”
Inter finished fourth in the first phase table of the Champions League to reach the last 16 and avoided a two-legged play-off.
They are second in the Serie A with 50 points, three behind Napoli but with a match in hand, and can go to the top for at least a few hours with a victory over Milan, who are seventh at 34 points.
Napoli visits Roma in Sunday's late game, while the third placed Atalanta, who has 46 points, host Torino on Saturday.
“At the moment Napoli, Inter and Atalanta have taken a bit of an advantage. I would not forget the teams behind it, who could make a run like these three favorites,” said Inzaghi.
Comments