Inzaghi Highlights Juventus' Scudetto Hopes Ahead of Derby d'Italia
Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi has warned of a more competitive Serie A title race this season as his team prepares to face Juventus in the Derby d'Italia. Despite Inter's comfortable 19-point lead over AC Milan last season, Inzaghi expects a more intense battle for the Scudetto this year. With Inter currently trailing league leaders Napoli by two points and holding just a single-point advantage over Juventus, he acknowledged the rising competition among Italy's top clubs.
"I don’t like to talk much about favorites and things like that," Inzaghi remarked in a press conference. "This year, the championship will be more balanced. Many teams have invested heavily to close the gap that had been created." He specifically praised Juventus, highlighting their strong defense under manager Thiago Motta. "Juventus are the best team in Europe in terms of goals conceded," he noted, "They have an excellent coach, and they will remain key players in the title race throughout the year."
While Motta and Napoli's Antonio Conte have downplayed their title chances, Inzaghi stated he cannot take such an approach due to Inter's high expectations. "We start the season with clear goals—to progress as far as possible in the cups and to be competitive in the league," he asserted, emphasizing Inter's determination to remain contenders on all fronts.
However, Inter will face Juventus with several injury concerns. Defender Francesco Acerbi remains sidelined due to a thigh injury sustained in their recent 1-0 victory over AS Roma, while key midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu also picked up an injury in the same match. Inzaghi is considering Kristjan Asllani as a potential replacement for Calhanoglu, though Asllani has missed the last two games with his own injury. "Calhanoglu is a world-class player for us," Inzaghi said, "His natural replacement is Asllani, who has improved significantly over the years."
With Asllani still recovering, Inzaghi may look to midfield options like Nicolo Barella or Piotr Zielinski, indicating that he will make a final decision based on players' conditions closer to the match.
Sunday’s showdown with Juventus represents a crucial test for both clubs. As the season's intensity builds, Inzaghi’s respect for Juve’s disciplined defense and Motta’s tactical acumen reflects the manager’s belief that Inter faces a much tougher Scudetto defense this year.
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