ROME, ITALY – DECEMBER 16: Simone Inzaghi, head coach of FC Internazionale during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and FC Internazionale at Stadio Olimpico on December 16, 2024 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Simone Inzaghi admits “some people couldn’t wait” for Inter to make a mistake and so they were forced to respond to the critics with a 6-0 win against Lazio. “I am very proud to be their coach.”

For Inzaghi, who spent most of his career at Lazio, first as a player and then as a coach, returning to the Stadio Olimpico is always an emotional one, so he was in no mood to rejoice after this stunning victory.

They raged in the capital with goals from Hakan Calhanoglu, Federico Dimarco, Nicolò Barella, Denzel Dumfries, Carlos Augusto and Marcus Thuram to a strong 6-0 result that certainly sends a message in the Scudetto race.

“Above all, it was important to beat a team that was in an excellent phase. “We didn’t lose our form in the first 20 minutes, then we raised the level and after the third goal things went downhill,” Inzaghi told DAZN.

“These guys have been giving me so much effort for three and a half years, I’m very proud to be their coach. We know we haven’t achieved anything yet but it’s a very good win against a team that has been in great form.”

Inter scored with six different players. So does this confirm that the defending champions are still the strongest overall squad in the league?

“The verdict will be made on the pitch,” Inzaghi replied.

“That’s how we prepared the game against Leverkusen, we knew Lazio’s qualities and the boys had the right interpretation. Now we have one game to go, after the last two in Serie A this year we have the Supercoppa Italiana coming up and it will be even more complicated.”

Inzaghi hit back at Inter critics

Before this triumph, Inter had won only one of their direct Serie A duels this season (loss to Milan, draws against Juventus and Napoli), but also suffered a 1-0 defeat in the Champions League against Bayer Leverkusen.

That gives them 34 points and is technically within reach of Atalanta’s 37, considering they still have a game in hand.

“We have been very consistent in Serie A over the last two and a half months, but that also applies to many other teams, including Lazio. You can see the table, it’s still very tight.

“The goal against Parma annoyed me because we didn’t deserve it based on the way we played,” said Inzaghi about the 3-1 win that gave away a clean sheet.

“These guys deserve applause because we have been playing non-stop for a month without Acerbi and Pavard, so we don’t have that many options for rotations. I also had several players booked today so I had to sign Darmian as a centre-back and he did it with great intelligence.”

Inzaghi was praised for the way he changed the 3-5-2 tactics from his predecessor Antonio Conte’s approach at Inter, and while he tried to fend off the DAZN pundits’ compliments, he also took a moment Time to clap back criticism.

“What I’m most proud of is the way these players put in the effort every time, which isn’t easy at this pace and so often. It’s a great group. I try to rotate as much as possible because they all deserve to play.

“Since our defeat against Milan in September, many people couldn’t wait for us to make a mistake, which is what happened to us in Leverkusen. A lot has been said, but luckily my players and I don’t listen to the media and just keep focusing on the game.”