Simone Inzaghi proud of his Inter for beating ‘best two teams in Europe’

The Nerazzurri are now set for their seventh European Cup final, a testament to a campaign defined by resilience and tactical acumen. Their journey included a formidable quarter-final victory over Bayern Munich before Tuesday night's spectacular semi-final second leg against Barcelona, which ended 4-3 to Inter after extra time, securing a breathtaking aggregate win.

Simone Inzaghi, emphasized the magnitude of his team's accomplishments. "We need to be proud of what we have done," he stated, reflecting on the caliber of opponents vanquished. "Probably Bayern Munich and Barcelona were the two best teams in Europe this season. This was an extremely difficult that had an incredibly high level." Looking ahead to the final, Inzaghi acknowledged the challenge, irrespective of whether they face PSG or Arsenal. "They are two great teams with two great coaches, with players that we know. The Champions League final is going to be a great final."

The semi-final decider was an emotional rollercoaster. Trailing 3-2 deep into injury time, Inter seemed on the brink of elimination before defender Francesco Acerbi netted a dramatic equalizer to force the additional period. The momentum swung firmly in Inter's favour when Davide Frattesi emerged as the extra-time hero, scoring the decisive goal. Inzaghi later revealed the midfielder's commitment, noting, "Frattesi wasn’t even part of training yesterday, but he did his best with painkillers to be ready."

This will be Inzaghi's second Champions League final with Inter, having experienced the heartbreak of a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City in Istanbul two years prior. His leadership has been crucial in navigating a demanding season marked by injuries to key players like Denzel Dumfries, Lautaro Martínez, and Marcus Thuram. "Yes, we suffered," Inzaghi admitted, "But there is no final without a little suffering."

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Barcelona's coach, Hansi Flick, graciously acknowledged Inter's victory and expressed pride in his own team's efforts, vowing they would learn from the experience. "Tonight when they arrive home and look in the mirror, they can be very proud," Flick commented on his players. "To win the Champions League is one of our goals. Next season, we want to do it."

Inter's Argentine striker, Lautaro Martínez, who scored the opening goal of the electrifying second leg, shared his elation: "I’m so happy, so proud, so grateful to fans and family. There is just one more step to go… we will do all we can to get Inter to the summit of European football." Goalkeeper Yann Sommer, named player of the match for a string of vital saves that kept Barcelona at bay, echoed this sentiment. "I am really proud of this team. We were already out, then we came back – we put everything on the pitch," Sommer declared. "We are very happy and I am looking forward to the final. We’ll enjoy this win tonight and it will be easy watching tomorrow night from the couch."

This momentous run evokes memories of Inter's last Champions League triumph in 2010 under José Mourinho, when they made history by becoming the first Italian club to secure a treble – Serie A, Coppa Italia, and the Champions League.