Inzaghi remains calm as Inter begin title defence

MILAN, Italy : Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi trusted the champions would get back to winning ways against Lecce on Saturday after they dropped points the week before to kick off their Serie A campaign.

Matteo Darmian and Hakan Calhanoglu secured Inter their first win of the season as they beat Lecce 2-0 at San Siro following a 2-2 draw at Genoa last weekend.

"You always need to be hungry, but I was quite calm. The lads are training well," Inzaghi told Sky.

"On Saturday in Genoa I think we played a good game. We conceded two goals that we should have avoided, but I saw a team that had committed itself.

"This week there was no happiness, (the win is something) normal because we are Inter and we always want to win."

Inter played their first home game of the season without captain Lautaro Martinez, who was sidelined with a muscle problem.

"The boy woke up on Friday morning with pain," Inzaghi explained.

"He had finished training on Thursday, then he woke up with a little problem and we decided not to risk him.

"He would have liked to be there, but we are in the first games and it's normal at the start of the season. I'm lucky to have other players, we'll try to get him back for Friday".

Inter host the Europa League winners Atalanta on Friday.

In the absence of last season's top scorer Martinez, defender Darmian took charge of scoring duties, giving Inter the lead five minutes into the game.

"Winning is never easy, repeating is increasingly difficult and we want to do it," Darmian said.

"We had already taken the lead in Genoa but we were unable to take home the three points, today we obtained an important victory and we must continue like this.

"I try to always be ready, to train 100 per cent, then the secret is in the group. At Inter