Inzaghi would not swap Inter players for anyone after Barca thriller

After a scintillating 3-3 draw in the first leg, it was hard to imagine that the return fixture at San Siro would be able to match those excitement levels.

However, the teams served up an even more dramatic 120 minutes in Italy, with Inter coming out on top 4-3 after extra time.

Lautaro Martinez and Hakan Calhanoglu scored to put Inter 2-0 up, but Barca roared back to lead 3-2 with three minutes of the 90 remaining. However, Francesco Acerbi equalised three minutes into stoppage time, then Davide Frattesi struck an extra-time winner to spark wild celebrations.

"First of all, we must also congratulate Barcelona, a really strong team," Inzaghi told Sky Sports in Italy.

"It took a super Inter, applause for these guys, two monstrous performances were put on the pitch.

"I'm happy to be their coach, they gave me everything they had. It is only right that they enjoy success in this stadium."

2 - Since Simone Inzaghi's joined the Nerazzurri (from 2021/22), Inter are one of the two clubs to have reached the most finals in Champions League, level with Real Madrid: both twice in four seasons. Infinity.#UCL #InterBarça #InterBarcellona pic.twitter.com/IjsATFbBOc

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) May 6, 2025

Inter have now reached the Champions League final for the second time in the last three seasons, having done so in just one of their previous 17 European Cup/Champions League campaigns – they were beaten 1-0 by treble-winning Manchester City in 2023.

They reached the showpiece match by edging the joint-highest scoring semi-final tie in competition history, alongside Liverpool's 7-6 aggregate win over Roma in 2017-18.

"We had some problems, but with our hearts we went beyond every obstacle," Inzaghi said.

"We tried to play for it, with the weapons and the qualities we have. After the first leg we had a plan in mind, but without sacrifice and help all together you can't do it."

Inzaghi saw plenty of quality in Barcelona's side, and not only in 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, who had taken most of the plaudits after his brilliant first-leg performance.

"There has been a lot of talk about Yamal, I have seen another extraordinary player who is (Frenkie) De Jong," Inzaghi said.

"He impressed me at Yamal's level, he cleaned out every second ball. I wouldn't change my players for anyone in the world, but I've seen many strong ones besides Yamal."

Frattesi was the hero of San Siro, after the midfielder also scored a late winner in the quarter-finals away to Bayern Munich, which proved decisive in a 4-3 aggregate triumph.

"It's incredible, I don't know what to say," the Italy international said. "After Munich I didn't think I'd repeat the same emotions, tonight the incredible happened.