Inzaghi confronts unprecedented injury crisis as Inter prepare for Feyenoord test

Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi said he had never faced a similar defensive injury crisis in his career as his side prepare to visit Feyenoord in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday.

The Serie A leaders, fresh off a 1-1 league draw at Napoli, have four of their five fullbacks injured, as Federico Dimarco, Nicola Zalewski, Carlos Augusto and Matteo Darmian remain sidelined.

Yet the coach, who also confirmed that first-choice goalkeeper Yann Sommer is also still out, remains confident that his team can rise to the challenge and cope with their demanding schedule.

We know were in a bit of trouble in a very specific part of the pitch... But the principles of the game dont change, were here to play in the round of 16 and well do our best, Inzaghi told reporters on Tuesday.

We dont think, we play, knowing that we are in a big emergency. It had never happened to me since Ive been coaching, because I have five fullbacks and all four who can play on the left have been injured.

We know what work weve done to get here, but this is football and this is the calendar we have to face. We move forward with great confidence.

Its a two-legged tie, but the lads know that the first leg is very important for us to go through. We have some small problems to solve, but Ive seen great willingness from all the lads.

Inzaghi expects an intense match in a heated atmosphere against Feyenoord, who have already stunned European giants Bayern Munich and AC Milan in the competition this season.

Theyre a physical team with great quality. We know that its not an easy place to play at home, I played there in 2000 with Lazio. I