Inzaghi: 'Immobile and De Vrij start'

By Football Italia staff

Simone Inzaghi confirms Ciro Immobile and Stefan de Vrij will start in Lazio’s Champions League showdown with Inter.

It kicks off on Sunday at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT), click here for a match preview.

The Biancocelesti will go into the Champions League if they either win or draw, but a defeat would send Inter into fourth place instead.

“We’ll play our usual game, regardless of the result. We don’t know what attitude Inter will have, but must focus only on ourselves,” said the Coach in his Press conference.

“I had wanted to avoid this final day showdown, but we got there with a three-point lead and worked to be ready for this situation. We talked a lot in the locker room, the lads know what is at stake at the end of a very long season. We need the right approach, concentrated, humble and avoid errors.”

Inzaghi has numerous issues to deal with, as Luis Alberto and Marco Parolo are out of action, but Immobile returns in record time after a thigh strain last month.

“Immobile had a great week, he worked day and night in training, just like Luis Alberto and Parolo. Tomorrow will be 21 days since Immobile’s injury and if it wasn’t the last game of the season, I’d have waited for the next, but he wants to be there at all costs and he will start.

“Felipe Anderson will try to help us and I think he’ll be a protagonist tomorrow. Luis Alberto and Parolo can’t play, but they will be on the bench with their teammates to the end.”

There are question marks around De Vrij, as it’s his final game in a Lazio jersey before joining Inter, so should he play a game that will effectively decide the fate of his next club?

“There has been so much talk about this, but I just watched him and had no doubts. I am certain he wants to leave his mark on this club, the fans and his teammates. He’ll also want to show Inter what a great defender they are signing for the next five years.

“We know that there’s a draw open to us, but both teams will play to win. Inter have great players, an excellent Coach and it’s an exciting challenge.

“I don’t like to say whether Lazio deserve the Champions League more than Inter or not. I only know that everything would change in terms of finances and prestige. We wanted this with all our strength, we played more than anyone this season and lost a few players along the way.

“I want to know that after the final whistle, this team gave all it had. We are at the final climb of a very long Giro d’Italia. Let the best team win.”

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