Simone Inzaghi: "We Are Challenging One of the Best Teams in the World"

Inter Milan head coach Simone Inzaghi has spoken ahead of tonight’s highly anticipated UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg against Barcelona, acknowledging the quality of the opposition and outlining his tactical expectations.

"We’re in the Champions League semi-finals, so I wouldn’t say we’re going through a difficult moment," Inzaghi told UEFA’s official website. "We’re all excited for the match. We’re facing one of the best teams in the world – and one of the most attacking sides in football. There will be moments where we’ll need to suffer. Technically, we must be flawless."

He continued to praise Barcelona's structure and youth development: "This is a team that has built itself up gradually. They have everything needed to play at the highest level. Hansi Flick is doing an excellent job, just like he did at Bayern Munich and with the German national team. They deserve credit – especially for how they work with young talent. Their academy continues to produce future stars. Lamine Yamal is a unique player – brilliant in one-on-ones and a true asset to the team."

The first leg of the Barcelona vs Inter Milan semi-final kicks off tonight at 21:00 CET.