Simone Inzaghi urged Inter to be more competitive and focused when they face AC Milan on Sunday, after playing poorly in the first two derbies this season. (More Sports News)
Inter lost 2-1 to Milan in September when Matteo Gabbia headed in a late winner before suffering a dramatic 3-2 defeat to Sergio Conceicao's side in t🌌🐻he Supercoppa Italiana in January.
Inter had only lost two of the previous 13 Milan derbies before the start of this season (W9 D2)𒐪, while they have not lost three in a row to their rivals since 2011.
"We know the val🌃ue of the opponent, this year the first two derbies went badly. The first deservedly, because Milan did well," Inzaghi told reporters on Saturday.
"In the second, in Riyadh, we were in control, and we had🎉 to be better in the incidents: the first goal was tainted by a foul on [Kristjan] ꦬAsllani.
";We have to react, we have to be better ꧟in the decisive moments of the match, which can turn agaღinst you in football."
Inter have won 70 matches and scored 259 goals in Serie A against Milan, more than any other side in the competition. O🅠n the other hand, they have drawn 56 games against the Rossoneri, more than against any other opponent in the Italian top-flight.
Inzaghi said Inter had played 16 games in the last two months and a packed Serie A calendar, along with their Coppa Italia quarter-final against Lazio scheduled for February 25, would prevent the team from perf𒐪orming at their peak.
Following the Milan derby, Inter host Fiorentina on February 10 in a rearranged match which was suspended in December following midfiel🧔der Edoardo Bove's collapse.
"We have played sixteen games in two months ... now we 🌄have the [rearranged game] with Fiorentina and the Coppa Italia on a particular date: it will prevent us from working at our best as we thought, but it doesn't depend on us," Inzaghi said.
"As for [the Fiorentina game], they have set this dat෴e that we didn't expect. The date of the Coppa Ita🍬lia could have been different, but we know that we will have to run in February too.
"We thought getting into the top eight of the Champions League would allow us to work differently, instead, we w♛ill do it like in January."
Inter finished fourth in the Champions League first phase table to reach tꩵhe last 16 and avoided a two-legged playoff.
They are second in Serie A with 50 points, three behind Napoli but with a g🌳ame in hand, and could go top at least for a few hours with a win over Milan, who are seventh on 34 poi🃏nts.
Napoli visit Roma in Sunday's late game, while thi൲rd-placed Atalanta, who have 4✨6 points, host Torino on Saturday.
"At this moment, Napoli, Inter and Atalanta have taken a bit of an advantage. I wouldn't forget the teams behind, who can make a run like these🌞 three favourites," Inzaghi said.
