Ahead of the reverse fixture of Inter against Barcelona in match-week four of the Champions League at the Camp Nou, Nerazzurri midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu spoke in an interview previewing the significant game.
In the previous fixture against both clubs, it was the Turkish international himself that made the difference for his side as the 28 year-old scored a fabulous low-driven screamer from a long way out past Marc Ter-Stegen in order to seal three vital points for Il Biscione.
In the interview with media outlet Prime Video (via Calciomercato), the Turkish maestro expressed his thoughts on having to face the Spanish giants yet again:
“They are strong, they have important players. We were mentally ready. When you go out on the pitch you know you have to give your all. We work as a team on the pitch. Not alone. On Tuesday we worked for each other. With desire, courage, heart. Now we just want to pedal and work.
“Before the game Onana and Romelu came to me and told me to try to kick in the goal on the right. And I shot very well. They are angry and have fire. in. We know it will be difficult but we will give our all. If we work like this on the pitch, 90 minutes until the end, I don’t think other teams have a chance to win against us.”
Furthemore, Calhanoglu touched upon having to fill the shoes for the Croatian international Marcelo Brozovic within the holding-midfielder role:
“I’m not used to this role. But in the national team I always played like this, with another midfielder close to me. Here I was alone. But with Barella and Mkhitaryan they gave me a great hand and we did a great job. “