The great victory of Inter against Bayern Munich away from home, in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final, has been widely praised and commented on by journalists and experts alike. Former coach Arrigo Sacchi, who in the past has not spared criticism towards Simone Inzaghi’s playing style, also shared his thoughts.
Writing in La Gazzetta dello Sport, the former manager offered congratulations on Inter’s success, but also expressed his opinion on the way the match was played by the Nerazzurri. According to Sacchi, the victory came with a typically Italian-style performance, mainly featuring defense and counterattack.
This style of play is not entirely to his liking, as he pointed out at the start of his commentary for La Rosea. Although it was an excellent performance, he believes Inter might have to contribute more, in terms of overall playing style, for the return leg at San Siro.
Here is what he stated about the performance at Allianz Arena:
It was a classic Italian-style effort. Meaning it was earned through commitment, suffering, stout defending, and quick, deadly counterattacks. Certainly, in Inter’s victory in Munich there’s something reminiscent of our past—I can’t deny it—but I cannot avoid congratulating the Nerazzurri, who gave everything to achieve a thoroughly deserved result. I admired Simone Inzaghi’s team for their determination; they clearly knew what they wanted to do and succeeded in doing it. Personally, I prefer when teams play with a higher line, pressing and attacking their opponents. But we must take into account the quality of the opponent, and therefore it’s understandable to adapt to the rival team you face. […] Triumph in the Champions League is now possible, especially after this victory which boosts the entire team’s confidence significantly. Perhaps they need to propose a slightly stronger idea of play moving forward, but I am sure Simone Inzaghi will work on that aspect in the upcoming days. Heading home for the return leg at San Siro, the advantage accumulated is significant: the Nerazzurri now have two out of three outcomes in their favor—not bad at all.
