Marotta: ‘Inter real difficulty is handling 3 tournaments’

Giuseppe Marotta, CEO for sport of Inter Milan, during the friendly game soccer match between FC Lugano and FC Internazionale Milano, in Lugano, Switzerland, 12 July 2022,. EPA-EFE/Alessandro Crinari

Inter President Beppe Marotta admits it is a ‘real difficulty’ to handle three tournaments in these final weeks of the season, especially when it means ‘far more injuries.’

The trip to Parma kicks off at the Stadio Tardini at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game, Monza-Como and Milan-Fiorentina on the Liveblog.

There really is no time to rest for the Nerazzurri, who played a 1-1 Coppa Italia semi-final draw with Milan on Wednesday and will face Bayern Munich in the first leg of the Coppa Campioni quarter-final on Tuesday.

As Napoli are just three points behind them in the Serie A table, they cannot afford to take their foot off the gas here either, especially with Parma revitalised by the arrival of new coach and former Inter defender Cristian Chivu.

Marotta outlines Inter concerns in packed season

“Perhaps playing before your rivals gives you greater freedom and a clear head, but ultimately we don’t have a preference and must get used to all the different schedules,” Marotta told DAZN.

“What does weigh on us is also having the Coppa Italia semi-final and the Coppa Campioni quarter-final, so that is the real difficulty, playing in three tournaments simultaneously with big games every three days.”

Lautaro Martinez returns to the squad after an injury on international duty, but Mehdi Taremi, Denzel Dumfries and Piotr Zielinski are still on the treatment table, plus midfielder Nicolò Barella is suspended.

“Lautaro is continually growing in terms of experience, he is our captain and gains that winning mentality year by year. Unfortunately, all the clubs in multiple competitions are getting far more injuries this season, as not just the fixture list, but the tempo and intensity of the game has also increased over the last 10 years,” continued Marotta.

“With clashes, contrasts, trauma and of course the many matches, it is difficult to get through a campaign without injuries.”

Today is the 49^th birthday of Inter coach Simone Inzaghi and he hopes to celebrate with a victory, but he’ll have to watch from the stands due to a touchline ban. So what gift would Marotta like to give him?

“We already celebrated with the squad earlier. The gift would be our support going into these final weeks of the season, but today is his birthday and I saw him fully focused on this match.”