"Inzaghi's Hidden Fears: Fatigue Factor in Inter's Milan Misfortune"

As the dust settled on the San Siro turf, the aftermath of Wednesday night’s Coppa Italia semi-final clash echoed with the resounding frustration of Inter’s fans, a palpable sense amidst the Milan faithful celebrating victory. For head coach Simone Inzaghi, the 3-0 defeat was not just a game won or lost, but a stark reflection on the grueling journey of a season that has been relentless, with every fixture charting the course of an emotional rollercoaster.

Inter faced their local rivals AC Milan, a team they had hoped to surpass. However, the fixture ended with Inzaghi conceding to the strain that his team has been under; a packed schedule that has stretched their physical and mental capacities. Two consecutive losses marked a poignant deviation in Inter’s recent form, and now with the Serie A and Champions League titles still hanging in the balance, fatigue was evident. I feel for Inzaghi, the pressure mounting with each whistle blow, each player’s exertion etched with the visible weight of the pressure.

Inzaghi shared his concerns post-match, noting, “Of course [I’m worried]. We’re not used to losing two in a row,” in a candid moment broadcasted on SportMediaset. This wasn’t just about sharing disappointment, but revealing the complex self-analysis that every coach knows is vital. “We didn’t deserve to lose in Bologna, and tonight we ran out of energy in the second half,” his voice carrying the burden of duty. To me, his concern is not merely for the scoreline, but for the morale that needs careful mending.

The game started with promise, the aggregate score tied at 1-1 after the first leg, but Inter’s vigor waned as the game advanced. Milan capitalized on this, with Luka Jovic finding the net twice and Tijjani Reijnders sealing the deal with a late third, marking a clear end to Inter’s Coppa Italia journey.

For Inzaghi, this disappointment is

Inter head coach Simone Inzaghi admitted his team is feeling the strain of a demanding season after their 3-0 defeat to AC Milan in the Coppa Italia semi-finals on Wednesday.

With the Serie A and Champions League titles still on the line, Inzaghi is worried after a second straight defeat following Sunday’s 1-0 league loss to Bologna, but urged his players to overcome the setbacks.

“Of course [I’m worried]. We’re not used to losing two in a row,” Inzaghi told SportMediaset.

“We need to analyse both defeats the right way. We didn’t deserve to lose in Bologna, and tonight we ran out of energy in the second half.

“We have to keep going. There’s both physical and mental fatigue. We need to be stronger than all of that.”

With the tie locked at 1-1 from the first leg, Luka Jovic scored twice for Milan and Tijjani Reijnders netted a late third to see Inter eliminated by their great rivals.

“This journey has brought us a lot of joy, but also some disappointments, like tonight,” Inzaghi said.

“We should’ve done better. We lacked sharpness in both boxes at key moments of the game.”

2 – #ACMilan will play two finals in a single season (Italian Super Cup and Coppa Italia) for the first time since 2007-08 (European Super Cup v Sevilla and Club World Cup v Boca Juniors, both won under Carlo Ancelotti). Stage.#DerbyMilano pic.twitter.com/wP2qFOqNS6

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) April 23, 2025

The Italian manager insisted that a packed schedule is no excuse, while his team must regain confidence for the final stretch of the season and ahead of hosting Roma on Sunday.

“We’ve had a more packed schedule than others, but again, it’s not an excuse,” Inzaghi said. “If we didn’t make it to the [Coppa] final, it means we didn’t do enough.

“There’s one month left, and we have to keep going with confidence. Tonight, Milan deserved it, and it’s only right that they’re going to the final.

“We’ll try to bounce back and give it our all on Sunday against Roma.”

Milan’s victory means they will play two finals in a single season, having beat Inter in the Supercoppa Italiana final, for the first time since 2007-08.

It also marks only the third time ever Milan have lost three derbies against Inter in a single season, after previously doing so in 1971-72 and 2004-05.