Simone Inzaghi: Inter Milan manager hails ‘extraordinary’ side for thrilling win over ‘world-class’ Barcelona to reach UEFA Champions League final

Inter Milan beat Barcelona 4-3 at the San Siro, for a 7-6 aggregate win in a UEFA Champions League semi-final classic. Inter head coach Simone Inzaghi had now beaten "the best two teams in Europe" after knocking out Bayern Munich and now Barcelona. Inter will take on Arsenal or Paris Saint-Germain in the final in Munich on May 31, a game that will be live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Inter Milan head coach Simone Inzaghi said his side had seen off "the two best teams in Europe" after their incredible UEFA Champions League semi-final victory over Barcelona.

After a thrilling 3-3 first-leg draw at the Nou Camp, Inter beat Barcelona 4-3 at the San Siro on Tuesday night, for a 7-6 aggregate win.

Davide Frattesi scored Inter's winner in extra time and the Italian giants will take on Arsenal or Paris Saint-Germain in the final in Munich on May 31, a game that will be live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

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A delighted Inzaghi hailed his team after they followed up their quarter-final win over Bayern Munich with another landmark victory in one of the best semi-finals in the long history of the European Cup.

"The players were extraordinary tonight," Inzaghi told reporters in his post-match press conference. "It has been an extremely difficult match against a world-class side. Same as it has been against Bayern Munich.

"We played four excellent matches, and it was the only way we could have reached the final. Not many counted on us going this far, and now we are very proud for our fans, for our people.

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"We need to keep on going, the final will be against a great team anyway, whether it will be against Arsenal or Paris Saint-Germain.

"I understand why you ask me about that, any one of those two teams will be very tough to face, but probably Bayern Munich and Barcelona are the two best teams in Europe right now.

'The tie that never wants to die!' - Inter in front yet again through Frattesi

Video credit: TNT Sports

"Two great teams, with two great coaches. We know their players well, we faced Arsenal in the league phase. The league phase draw was quite tough for us - Manchester City, Arsenal, Leverkusen, Leipzig, all tough teams.

"Then we had Feyenoord, Bayern, and then Barcelona. I have no preferences for sure [for the final], we will just face another great team. But so is Inter Milan."

Key decisions went against Barca, says Flick

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick said some key decisions went against his team as they lost out to Inter Milan in a Champions League classic.

The La Liga side went into the break 2-0 down after the referee had awarded the hosts a penalty for the second goal after a VAR check, which left the Barca players and coaching staff furious.

Flick's side produced a stunning second-half display and looked on course to make the final with goals from Eric Garcia, Dani Olmo and Raphinha.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

However, in dramatic fashion, Francesco Acerbi levelled the semi-final second leg in Milan in stoppage time before Frattesi had the final say in extra-time.

"I know that everyone is disappointed, we could be disappointed that we are out because we invested a lot in this match and came back again," Flick said in his press conference.

"I think some decisions that were 50-50 [went] always for Inter, but it's like that. And we have to accept it, it's football, but at the end we can be proud about our performance. I'm proud of my team, we gave everything.

"Sometimes it's like that, you feel a little bit unfair because I think some decisions the referee made were really maybe not on our side, but it's like that.

"We have to accept it and we start again next season to win the Champions League. This is one of our goals."

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