Inzaghi Unveils Plans To Stop Yamal In Champions League Clash
Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi has unveiled plans to stop Barcelona’s rampaging star, Lamine Yamal, in their Champions League clash on Tuesday.
Yamal delivered an impressive performance in the first leg, capping it off with a stunning goal in the first half and hitting the woodwork twice.
Inzaghi has admitted that they need to stop Yamal to stand a chance of defeating Barcelona.
He said, “It’s going to be really hard; we have to try to stop him from getting the ball but that’s almost impossible in today’s football.
“He’ll be getting special attention from us. We’ll obviously double up on him; we’ll try to give him as much attention as possible but like we said after the first match, he is a great talent.
“He is really dangerous when he has the ball. When the team are in trouble, they all give him the ball. But what really struck me is how quickly he thinks. When he gets the ball, he already knows within a fraction of a second what he wants to do.”
Yamal has enjoyed a prolific season with Barcelona, scoring 15 goals and recording 24 assists, coupled with a series of match-winning performances.
Yamal’s 44 shots, 19 shots on target and 78 dribbles are all the most on record since 2003-04 by a teenager in a season.
Inzaghi also provided an update on Lautaro Martinez, who suffered a hamstring injury in the first leg.
He said, “We’ll decide with the medical staff and the players because it will be them who need to tell me how they’re feeling.
“Yesterday Pavard took part in the first part of training and he felt OK, so we’ll see. Lautaro hasn’t trained since the last match with Barca so let’s see how he is today and then we’ll decide.
“It’s unlikely that a player who can’t start the match would be able to help us out in the last 25 minutes.”
The Italian manager admitted that Barcelona will be tough but he is confident of advancing to the final.
He said, “We are up against a strong team; we have had a taste of that firsthand in the first leg. But I hope to see a great Inter against Barcelona. We know the importance of this game.
“It will take a huge performance. We need to be switched on and clear-headed. The group believes in their ability to win this game and can’t wait for it.
“There’s just the right amount of tension. It’s almost a final and we get to play it in front of our fans.”
Martinez has scored seven goals in the Champions League for Inter Milan this season.
Inzaghi Unveils Plans To Stop Yamal In Champions League Clash is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
