Inter saw an exceptional side of Barcelona to reach the Champions League final and Nerazzurri -Baas Simone Inzaghi said he would not trade his players for others.
After a sparkling 3-3 significant game in the first stage, it was difficult to imagine that the return arrangement in San Siro would be able to match those excitement mirrors.
The teams, however, served an even dramatic 120 minutes in Italy, with Inter after extra time at 4-3.
Lautaro Martinez and Hakan Calhanoglu scored to raise Inter 2-0, but Barca roared back to lead 3-2 with three minutes of the 90. However, Francesco Acerbi equalized three minutes in the stopping time, after which Davide Frattesi hit an extra-time winner to generate wild parties.
“First of all, we also have to congratulate Barcelona, a really strong team,” Inzaghi told Sky Sports in Italy.
“It took a superinter, applause for these boys, two monstrous versions were put on the field.
“I am happy to be their coach, they gave me everything they had. It's just good that they enjoy success in this stadium.”
2 – Since Simone Inzaghis has joined the Nerazzurri (from 2021/22), Inter is one of the two clubs that have reached the most finals in Champions League, level with Real Madrid: both twice in four seasons. Infinity. #Ucl #interbarça #interbarcellona pic.twitter.com/ijsatfbboc
– OPTAPAOLO (@OPTAPAOLO) 6 May 2025
Inter has now reached the Champions League final for the second time in the last three seasons, after he had done this in just one of their previous 17 European Cup/Champions League campaigns-they were beaten 1-0 by Treble-Winning Manchester City in 2023.
They reached the showpiece competition by directing the joint highest scoring semi-final draw in competition history, in addition to the 7-6 aggregated victory of Liverpool over Roma in 2017-18.
“We had some problems, but with our heart we went beyond every obstacle,” said Inzaghi.
“We tried to play for it, with the weapons and the qualities we have. After the first stage we had a plan in mind, but without sacrificing and helping everything together, you can't do it.”
Inzaghi saw a lot of quality in the side of Barcelona, and not only in the 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, who had taken the most compliments after his brilliant first legs.
“There is a lot talking about Yamal, I have seen another extraordinary player who is (Frenkie) de Jong,” said Inzaghi.
“He impressed me at the level of Yamal, he cleaned up every second ball. I wouldn't change my players for someone in the world, but I saw a lot of strong next to Yamal.”
Fratteni was the hero of San Siro, after the midfielder also scored a late winner in the quarterfinals to Bayern Munich, who turned out to be decisive in a 4-3 total triumph.
“It's incredible, I don't know what to say,” said the Italy International. “After Munich I didn't think I would repeat the same emotions, tonight it happened incredible.
“I didn't get such an incredible talent, but I was always the last to give up and the first to believe in it. At 3-3 I said we would continue. I came from the couch, but it's like I played 120 minutes.”