Inter willing to ‘sweat blood’ against Spurs

Inter Milan coach Luciano Spalletti says his players are prepared to “sweat blood” in their quest to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League.

The Serie A side are firm favourites to progress out of Group B along with Barcelona and they could seal the deal against Tottenham at Wembley on Wednesday.

If Inter avoid defeat they will reach the last 16 of a tournament they are playing in for the first time since 2012.

“For years the Inter family have been waiting to play these games,” the Italian said. “It is fundamental for our fans, it is really important and that means we are prepared to give absolute everything.

“The possibility of going through to the knockout stage is very real but it is still something we are going to have to sweat blood to achieve.

“There is still a lot at stake, definitely given the group of players I have I know we have a good possibility of going through.

“I know we are capable of playing against any team and achieve a good result.

“We have to see it as a knockout game because if we don’t get the result we need, we might not be the master of our destinies in the last group game and we don’t want that.

“We need to earn qualification, we don’t have any advantage whatsoever.”

Spalletti believes that he is coming up against one of the best managers in Europe in the shape of Mauricio Pochettino.

“Pochettino is a very good coach, one of the greats,” Spalletti added. “Tactically and technically we see his team play, his team changes line-up and system and you can see the hand of the coach behind the changes, one who knows his work.

“You can see also from a psychological point of view he is really strong and that is an important quality.”