Phenomenons like Yamal born in 50 years: Inter boss Inzaghi

Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi lavished praise on Barcelona’s teenage winger Lamine Yamal after a thrilling 3-3 Champions League semi-final first leg draw on Wednesday.

Yamal, 17, scored a superb solo goal on his 100th Barcelona game as the Catalans came back from two goals down and terrified Inter’s defence throughout.

“Yamal is clearly a talent of the type born every 50 years, talents like this I’ve never really seen before,” said Inzaghi.

“I saw him tonight for the first time and he created problems for us, we doubled up him... and then we lacked players elsewhere on the pitch...

“(Our performance) is a reason for great pride, and Yamal is a phenomenon of the kind born every 50 years.”

Inter kept Yamal quiet for some parts of the second half, which Inzaghi said was the objective after the teenager’s first-half display.

“We adjusted something, we had to be better on Yamal, which is not very simple,” continued the coach.

Inzaghi also said he had “some doubts” whether captain Lautaro Martinez, who went off injured at half-time, would be ready for the second leg.

Inzaghi was satisfied with his side’s 3-3 draw against Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, but injury concerns cast a shadow over the Italian side’s excellent away performance.

Inzaghi’s side have fitness concerns ahead of the return leg next Tuesday, with key players sidelined due to injuries. Benjamin Pavard was already out with an ankle injury, while star striker Lautaro Martinez was unable to return for the second half of Wednesday’s match due to a hamstring issue.

“Lautaro felt something in his leg and we will know more tomorrow after we run some tests, but it seems extremely unlikely that he can make it to the second leg, which will be a final for us,” Inzaghi told Movistar Plus.

“We hope to have Pavard back next Tuesday, but I don’t think we can expect the same from Lautaro, unfortunately. It will be a final for us and I’m counting on 75,000 of our fans to help us achieve this remarkable accomplishment.”

Dutch fullback Denzel Dumfries, who scored twice on Wednesday, downplayed the fact that Inter squandered a two-goal lead, allowing Barcelona to fight back twice and secure a draw.

He praised his side’s effort, especially after they suffered three consecutive losses in Italy with back-to-back Serie A defeats and a Coppa Italia exit to rivals AC Milan threatening to derail their season.

“I think it was a good game from our side. After some bad results, we saw the real Inter again, playing with heart out there, and I am really proud,” Dumfries told Prime Video.

“Sure, we wanted to win, but it was a good game and a result that leaves the semi-final completely open. We will see at San Siro where everything is possible for us. We are a strong team and we have to prove it every game.”

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick also hailed winger Yamal, who rejected comparisons to all-time great Lionel Messi on the eve of the game, but scored a goal the Argentine would have been proud of.

“I’m really happy that this talent that comes every 50 years plays for Barca,” said Flick, when Inzaghi’s words were put to him.

The German coach said Yamal sparked his team’s comeback.

“Lamine in the first half was so important for us, he created so many positive things and got the first goal,” the German coach told reporters.

“In the big matches you see the quality of this player and he showed it today, it’s really good to have him...

“He’s special, he’s a genius... you see all the details and it’s unbelievable how he does this.”

“I haven’t done anything yet, I have so much ahead of me to do,” warned Yamal after the game, speaking to CBS Sports.

“I have always thought (the quadruple was possible), I have a lot of trust in the team... I think we will go through.”

“I try and enjoy myself, I think that is the secret, to enjoy it,” Yamal, who made his debut at 15, told CBS.

Agencies