“Zielinski & Dumfries start” against Red Star in UCL

Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi has confirmed that Piotr Zielinski and Denzel Dumfries will start against Red Star Belgrade tomorrow.

The Nerazzurri coach gave his thoughts during a pre-match press conference, as reported by FCInterNews. He also admitted that his team needs to work on conceding fewer goals.

Tomorrow Inter will be back in action in the Champions League.

The Nerazzurri will play their first home game in Europe’s biggest club competition this season. They host Serbian giants Red Star Belgrade.

Below conceded a valuable point to Manchester City in their first match of the competition.

But now the Nerazzurri will feel they need to start racking up wins if they are to hope to finish in the top eight of the ‘league phase’ of the new league format.

However, Inter coach Inzaghi will try to balance the Champions League with Serie A at the same time.

Inter Coach Inzaghi: “Zielinski & Dumfries start” against Red Star

One player who will definitely start tomorrow is former Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski.

“Zielinski will definitely play tomorrow,” said Inter coach Inzaghi.

“Then I evaluate the other two places in midfield. Calhanoglu or Asllani, and Mkhitaryan or Frattesi.”

Meanwhile, Inzaghi said of full-back Denzel Dumfries: “His new contract has not yet been confirmed, but it looks very likely.”

“I’m happy with that,” the Inter coach added. “He is a top player.”

“He will definitely play tomorrow, just like Zielinski,” he said of Dumfries.

Inzaghi noted: “I still have to decide in attack.”

“Any of the four forwards could play,” the coach said. “But I don’t know yet who will start.”

“We’ll see based on the last few practices.”

Inzaghi noted: “We need everyone because this season is even tougher than ever.”

“Thinking about these two-three match series in quick succession is something I’ve never done before,” the Nerazzurri coach noted.

“I have to make decisions.”

As for how the new Champions League format will change things for Inter, Inzaghi said: “Time will tell.”

“We’ve always gotten past the group stage quite easily,” he noted.

“But this season we cannot make any calculations.”

“We have to concentrate from the first few games. Also tomorrow.”

Inzaghi noted that “Red Star has already played nine league matches as well as the Champions League play-offs.”

“They are a well-organized and well-coached team with great players,” he said of the Serbian squad.

“No comment” on Ultras scandal

Meanwhile, Inzaghi was also asked a question about the scandal involving members of the Inter Ultras group Curva Nord.

Anti-mafia prosecutors today investigated nine members of the Inter and AC Milan ultras groups for involvement in alleged illegal ticket sales.

However, Inter’s coach made it clear: “The club has asked me not to say anything about that.”

“The investigation is still ongoing,” he noted.

On the pressure this season after last season’s dominance in Serie A, Inzaghi noted: “It’s even harder to win hard and win again.”

“The boys work with full dedication. We still lack the consistency we had last season and we have to find that in training.”

“All teams have struggled,” Inzaghi noted.

“They are still trying to improve, and so are we.”

“On Saturday the boys played a great match,” said the Inter coach of his team’s victory over Udinese in Serie A. “We talked about the two goals we conceded; they are grounds for analysis.”

“Because we always have to improve.”

Inzaghi emphasizes Inter’s need to improve defensive concentration

Inzaghi gave his opinion on the goals Inter conceded against Udinese.

“The first step brings Thuram forward,” he said. “The team must stand together and clear the penalty area.”

“In addition to Dimarco, another player is needed. The team needs to position itself better.”

“And secondly, I have read that it is one player’s fault, but again, it is a collective fault,” Inzaghi argued.

“I have read that a mistake was made by Acerbi. Calhanoglu. Bisseck, Darmian. The Free.”

“But it is the fault of all five,” the Inter coach argued. “But also from the attackers, because we conceded a goal from a ball from the goalkeeper.”

“Everyone could have done better,” Inzaghi argued. ‘The forwards, the wingbacks, Bisseck in the first line of defence.’

“Acerbi doesn’t need to double down there. Calhanoglu can’t sneak in like this. De Vrij and Darmian are too open.”

“It was something to analyze, and the team understood it and analyzed it as best they could,” Inzaghi said.

On the need for greater defensive concentration, Inzaghi said: “That is very important.”

“Frattesi is right when he says there are principles and moments when the team needs to be more compact.”

“This Saturday we saw the usual Inter,” said Inzaghi. “But I already saw them against City, against Atalanta and Lecce.”

“We don’t need to keep pandering like this,” he noted. “I think we conceded the same expected goals last season.”

“It’s probably a moment where we just need to focus more,” Inzaghi said.