Hakan Calhanoglu is confident Inter Milan are ready to face Liverpool and believes his Serie A side can win Wednesday’s Champions League last 16 tie, via quotes by Sport Mediaset.
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds travel to the San Siro this week looking to establish a first-leg lead on the road. The Anfield natives have not faced the reigning Scudetto title holders since March 2008, when the Premier League side eliminated the Nerazzurri 3-0 after winning both legs.
Fernando Torres settled the second-leg of the round of 16 Champions League meeting in Milan 14-years ago in the 64th-minute. Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard also struck home in the reverse fixture on Merseyside to hand Rafa Benitez’s men a comfortable advantage.
Klopp will hope to follow in Benitez’s footsteps when the Reds descend on the San Siro this week. Liverpool also carry great European momentum into their meeting with Inter Milan.
Liverpool were one of just three sides to finish the group stage boasting a 100% win-record. They also scored 17 goals to six conceded over their encounters with Atletico Madrid, Porto and AC Milan. Inter, meanwhile, finished second to Real Madrid by five-points in Group D.
Calhanoglu urges Inter Milan to ‘capitalise’ on chances Liverpool will allow
Inter Milan lost both of their Champions League group stage affairs with Real Madrid and failed to score in either. Nonetheless, Calhanoglu feels the Nerazzurri can take inspiration from their defeats to Los Blancos ahead of hosting Liverpool in their first knockout fixture.
Calhanoglu additionally believes Inter Milan can beat Liverpool if Simone Inzaghi’s men stay tight. As while they did not score against the Galacticos, they created chances and he feels the Reds will similarly leave openings that Lautaro Martinez and co can potentially exploit.
“We are ready to face Liverpool,” Calhanoglu said. “They are strong, but we do not lack the personality to face them. Concrete, we must be concrete.
“Against Real [Madrid], for example, we created a lot but not achieved. With Liverpool, we must capitalise on the opportunities that we will be able to create.”
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