MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 16: Nicolo Barella of FC Internazionale celebrates with teammate Federico Dimarco following their victory at the end of the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final Second Leg match between FC Internazionale Milano and FC Bayern München at San Siro on April 16, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Hakan Calhanoglu insists Inter ‘were prepared to suffer’ against Bayern Munich and explains how they had to adjust tactically for the Champions League quarter-final. ‘We always believed in ourselves.’
It was a tough slog at San Siro, as Harry Kane had put the Germans in front on the night for 2-2 on aggregate with an angled drive, but within nine minutes the Nerazzurri had turned it around through Lautaro Martinez and Benjamin Pavard.
See how it unfolded on the Liveblog.
Eric Dier’s odd looping header made it 2-2 on the night, so Inter go through 4-3 on aggregate to face Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final.
Calhanoglu: ‘Inter prepared for Bayern Munich’
“It was a wonderful evening, certainly with a lot of suffering too, but we were prepared for that, as we knew Bayern would come out fighting,” Calhanoglu told Sky Sport Italia.
“We reacted well after going behind, then defended once we went 2-1 up, but we always believed in ourselves and we are happy.”
Inter are the only Italian side still in the running for the Treble, as they are also top of the Serie A table and will face Milan in the Coppa Italia semi-final next week.
“It is not easy to play 90 minutes every three days. Our fans help us a great deal, we must always believe, because we’ve got what it takes to hurt any opponent,” added Calhanoglu.
The midfielder was asked about the tactical decisions made at San Siro compared to the first leg, where Bayern Munich had changed with Thomas Muller in for Raphael Guerreiro.
“We tried to keep the pressure on Joshua Kimmich to stop him controlling the play, but Muller was always chasing me around and I had to help out Acerbi,” explained Calhanoglu.
“Muller always makes dangerous moves, we had to keep an eye on that situation.”
