Inter’s Inzaghi targets 10 points to reach Champions League knockouts

Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi believes his team need 10 points from their daunting group which includes Barcelona and Wednesday’s opponents Bayern Munich if they are to reach the Champions League knockout stage.

Inter were the last Italian side to win the Champions League in 2010 when they beat Bayern in the final.

However, they go into the game at the San Siro on the back of a 3-2 defeat in the Milan derby and up against one of the serious contenders for the trophy.  

“We know we must get 10 points,” said Inzaghi at Tuesday’s pre-match press conference.

“It is a very competitive group, a lot more difficult than last year but we are Inter.

“We know the strength of our opponents, they are one of the three or four candidates to win the Champions League.”

While Inzaghi will have to cope without Belgian international striker Romelu Lukaku, on loan after a disappointing season with Chelsea, Bayern’s goal threat will come from former Liverpool star Sadio Mane.       

Mane was in the Liverpool side that ended Inter’s interest in the Champions League last season, with a 2-1 aggregate win in the last 16.

“He is a very good footballer, who has as crazy an intensity in the attacking part of the pitch as he does when defending,” said Inzaghi.

Inzaghi said the derby defeat was a huge disappointment but Inter’s Turkish midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu said it was time to move on.

“Yes, we lost but it tires me to talk about it,” said Calhanoglu, who knows Bayern well from his days with Hamburg and Bayer Leverkusen.

“Wednesday it will be tough, but this is the Champions League, it is like that and it is wonderful to be involved.

“Bayern I know well, they are strong, quick and press deep, we have to be ready for them.”