Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi said RB Leipzig’s lowly position in the Champions League table does not reflect their performances ahead of their match at the San Siro on Tuesday.
Inzaghi noted that despite Leipzig sitting 32nd in the 36-team standings with zero points, they have deserved better results in their four Champions League matches. He pointed out that Leipzig had only clearly lost to Celtic and praised the team’s strong defensive record in the Bundesliga until Saturday.
Leipzig, who are third in the Bundesliga after a 4-3 loss at Hoffenheim, began their European campaign with a 2-1 loss at Atletico Madrid and home defeats to Juventus (3-2) and Liverpool (1-0). Their most recent loss came in a 3-1 defeat at Celtic.
Inzaghi acknowledged the strength of Leipzig, noting their coach, Marco Rose, has been with the club for years, and that Leipzig features many talented players. “The ranking does not reflect their performances in Europe. We know we are facing a strong team,” Inzaghi said.
Inter, in contrast, are on a three-game winning streak in the Champions League, with victories over Red Star Belgrade, Young Boys, and Arsenal, following their opening draw at Manchester City.
Inzaghi praised his side’s positive momentum following a 5-0 win over Verona in Serie A on Saturday, but emphasized the need for continuous improvement. “We always have to work harder,” he said. “On Saturday, we scored five goals in one half, but we saw mistakes that could have cost us dearly.”
Inter are currently third in Serie A, one point behind Napoli and level with Atalanta. Inzaghi will likely be without midfielder Davide Frattesi for the Leipzig match due to an ankle issue but hopes to have injured midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu and unwell forward Lautaro Martinez available.
Inzaghi provided an update on Frattesi’s injury, saying, “Frattesi has been dealing with an ankle problem for 10 days. He felt some discomfort yesterday and didn’t feel his best today.” He also mentioned that Calhanoglu, who had been substituted at halftime during Turkey’s match against Wales on November 16 due to a muscle issue, and Martinez, who missed the Verona match due to illness after returning from international duty, had both trained well. “I will evaluate the lineup tomorrow morning,” Inzaghi concluded.
