Inter boss Inzaghi blames fatigue for below-par derby showing

Inter boss Simone Inzaghi blamed fatigue levels for his team's limp performance against Milan in the Coppa Italia semi-finals, admitting the Nerazzurri are still "licking their wounds" after losing to their rivals in Serie A last month.

Inzaghi's men managed just seven shots at goal and created a disappointing 0.30 expected goals in the 0-0 first-leg stalemate, extending their winless run to five matches in all competitions.

That is their longest such streak since a sequence of 10 without winning in February 2018, and has also seen the reigning champions surrender top spot in Serie A to Napoli.

Inter have also failed to win any of the three Milan derbies played this season, going down to an Olivier Giroud double in league action just last month, and Inzaghi believes their previous loss to the Rossoneri, as well as their recent physical exertions, have taken a heavy toll.

"I think the draw was the right result," Inzaghi told Mediaset. "We are still licking our wounds after losing the Serie A derby 2-1, that looked completely different until the 75th minute [Inter led for the majority of that contest].

"I think this derby was less spectacular compared to the other two, as there was a lot at stake. The two teams were anxious and looking at the 180 minutes.

"We want to reach the Final and win another trophy [but] knowing this was our 36th game of the season, we need to regain sharpness, but we are working on it.

"We're playing a lot. Apart from one error we made playing out from the back and a Handanovic save, I don't remember other Milan chances."

| FULL TIMEThe #CoppaItaliaFrecciarossa semi-final first leg ends hereNo goals so it remains perfectly poised for the return leg in April #MilanInter -#DerbyMilano #FORZAINTER pic.twitter.com/QV7yR8fHt9
— Inter (@Inter_en) March 1, 2022

After mustering seven unsuccessful goal attempts at San Siro, Inter have now failed to find the net with any of their last 69 shots attempted in all competitions, and Inzaghi also blamed mental and physical fatigue for his strikers' fallow period.

"I realise it hits the headlines when we don't score for four games, but we are working on it, we have talented strikers who are getting back to full fitness," he said.

"There is inevitably a physiological dip, as we pushed with such intensity in November, December and January.

"We lost the Serie A derby, but had dominated for 75 minutes. We weren't as sharp this evening, but there was a final up for grabs and both teams want to reach it, so approached it more tactically.

"It was a bit of a tactical stalemate because so much was at stake. We are trying to recover physical and above all mental energy. We wanted to reach the Champions League round of 16 and the Coppa Italia semi-finals with all our strength, so now we have to bear the brunt of those commitments."

The goalless draw also extended Inter's poor run against their neighbours in knockout football. Inter have now only won one of their past nine clashes with Milan in the Coppa Italia, Champions League, or Supercoppa Italiana, losing four and drawing four.