Inter fans on Tuesday were still
savouring Monday's sweet 2-1 derby win over AC Milan that sealed
their 20th Serie A title and the right to wear a second star on
their shirts - one for every 10 championship triumphs.
Goals by Francesco Acerbi and Marcus Thuram gave Inter an
unassailable 17-point lead over second-placed Milan with five
games of the season still to go.
Defender Fikayo Tomori pulled one back for Milan in the closing
stages but they were unable to find the equalizer that would
have postponed the scudetto triumph and stopped Inter
celebrating the title right in front of them.
"It's a wonderful feeling. We've done something incredible,"
said Inter coach Simone Inzaghi.
"It's only right to share it with those who have played an
important role, such as the players, the Club and the president,
who has always been there for us.
"I'm also thinking about my wife, my children and my parents,
who have been vital for me. Tonight's match was hard-fought and
fair, but I was sorry to see what happened in the last few
minutes," he added, referring to the red cards given to
Milan's Theo Hernandez and Davide Calabria and Inter's Denzel
Dumfries in the latter stages of the match.
"We produced a good performance and kept our shape really well.
We could have scored another in the first half, but we're very
happy.
"Every day, we work hard to improve. If I think back to my first
year at Inter, I think you could already see good things, and
then we won five trophies before the second star today.
"There's a real feeling of togetherness within the group, and
the lads have been extraordinary.
"This morning, we trained hard in the rain, and this made the
difference because Acerbi's goal was something we worked on in
training.
"It's been a fantastic journey, and I had positive feelings when
I arrived at Inter. "Our fans deserve this victory, and now we
need to finish the season in the best possible way.
"We've dominated the league, winning it with five games to
spare. We have to enjoy it because we've worked so hard".
Monday's win continued Inter's long run of dominance in the
Milan derby.
"The Milan fans will say there are too many matches in the next
championship and they'll propose abolishing two, the two
derbies," quipped Senate Speaker Ignazio La Russa, an Inter fan,
on Rai radio.
"What are the chances of winning the scudetto by winning a
derby? One in a million.
"But the satellites were lined up and two stars emerged".
Surprise-package Bologna, meanwhile, won 3-1 at fifth-placed AS
Roma to consolidate fourth place and close in on a slot on next
season's Champions League.
The top five in Serie A qualify for the Champions League.
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