JAKARTA - Inter Milan midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan denied his team celebrated too much after defeating Bayern Munich in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals in the middle of last week.
Bayern Munich player Harry Kane accused the Nerazzurri players of celebrating as if they had stepped into the semifinals after surprisingly winning over FC Hollywood-centiment echoed by the coach, Vincent Kompany.
"Everyone is free to say what they want. We know what we're doing, we know we're just happy after the first game - it's not a massive celebration."
"We want to stay focused on our game, on our game, and nothing else."
"There are a lot of people talking off the pitch, outside the club, and we are trying not to listen to or listen to all of that," Mkhitaryan said on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, local time, ahead of the second leg at Giuseppe Meazza on Thursday, April 17, 2025, early morning WIB.
Inter head to the game with a 2-1 lead after a thrilling match in Germany.
Substitute Thomas Muller appears to have saved Bayern Munich's 1-1 draw when he equalized after Lautaro Martinez's opener five minutes from the end of the game.
However, Davide Frattesi scored the winning goal three minutes later. It was Bayern Munich's first home defeat in the tournament nearly four years ago.
Frattesi got a yellow card for tearing his shirt while celebrating victory. Bayern Munich believes that the excessive excitement will continue after the final whistle sounds.
"I know they celebrate a win like they won the game in the end, but it all has to be fought for. One goal and 90 minutes to play," said Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane, after the first leg.
However, the England National Team captain's statement was revised at a press conference ahead of the match. He said at that time the sentence was because his emotions were peaking.
"Maybe just at that moment and emotion after the game, maybe a little bit feels like that."
"I'm sure if we win tomorrow and qualify, there will be a celebration for us. That's football, as it is," he said when asked why he thought the Inter celebration was prominent.
Meanwhile, Mkhitaryan and Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi agreed with the end of the statement.
The two repeated several times that they had only been in the first round of the quarter-finals which lasted two legs.
Inzaghi also highlighted that Bayern Munich was a frightening team for the Nerazzurri at home - with the Bundesliga giant having won four games they played at Giuseppe Meazza and Inter Milan scoring just one goal in the game.
"We must not look at the precedent, which is clearly not always positive in Inter Milan's history against Bayern Munich at Giuseppe Meazza."
"However, the players are grown up, they know that we played against a really great opponent."
"We respect them, as they should be, but with the right attitude. I think we can play great," said Inzaghi.
Inter Milan did beat Bayern Munich in the 2010 Champions League final to win trebles alongside Serie A and the Italian Cup trophy - something Inzaghi's side want to repeat this year.
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