Inter Milan’s Romelu Lukaku hitting his stride ahead of home stretch, says Simone Inzaghi

MILAN – Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku has entered the final month of the season in the “best possible way”, coach Simone Inzaghi said on Monday, ahead of the return leg of their Champions League semi-final tie against city rivals AC Milan.

Lukaku, on loan at Inter from Chelsea, has struggled with injuries and form this season, but he has tallied five goals and three assists in his last six games.

Asked if the Belgian had returned to the level he had displayed during his first spell at Inter – when he scored 64 goals in two seasons and won the Serie A title – Inzaghi said: “You know him, you know what he can do.

“That’s what we expected during the year, unfortunately something unforeseen happened to both him and (Marcelo) Brozovic that took away two players who were indispensable for so many months.

“We have played important games without them, but Lukaku has arrived in the last month in the best possible way.”

However, Inzaghi added that there are still some doubts over the 30-year-old’s fitness, saying: “Three games a week at the moment, I don’t even know if he can manage them.”

Inter have a 2-0 lead over Milan

entering Tuesday’s second leg at the San Siro, as they look to reach the final for the first time since they were crowned European champions in 2010.

The Italian side had a similar lead heading into their quarter-final, second leg against Benfica, and Inzaghi said his message to his players was the same as it had been ahead of that tie in April.

“I said it before Benfica, it will take a cool head and a warm heart. I will be repetitive, but it’s the only way for matches like this,” he said.

“Tomorrow we know it’s one of the most important games in Inter’s history... Tomorrow we know we have an advantage, deservedly so, but we won’t just have to manage it. We’ll have to play as Inter, knowing that we have a strong team. We know we are 90 minutes away from a dream.”

He also added that forward Joaquin Correa, who was taken off at half-time during Inter’s 4-2 win over Sassuolo on Saturday, could return for Tuesday’s match.

“Correa asked for a change, I wouldn’t have taken him off because he was satisfying me,” Inzaghi said.

“Hopefully it’s nothing serious, the sensations are good but we’ll evaluate in today’s training. He should make it but I have no certainties.”

However, Rafael Leao, Serie A’s Most Valuable Player in the 2021-22 campaign will certainly feature for Milan after missing the first leg owing to a muscle injury.

Milan coach Stefano Pioli said: “He’s better, like (Rade) Krunic and (Junior) Messias. If everything goes as it should, they’ll be available for final training this afternoon and will be in the game tomorrow.”

Inter defender Francesco Acerbi opined that it will take a team effort to stop the Portuguese, saying: “Leao is their best player, the most decisive. We will stop him with the whole team.”

Milan, meanwhile, cannot just rely on Leao to turn the tie. Said Pioli: “We have to get to second balls first, and have a different approach than the last few times...

“We’re not a very tall team, that’s a fact. We have to defend dead balls better. We had our chances, but we didn’t exploit them. We have to make the most of the chances we create. Inter will give us something and we have to exploit it.” REUTERS