Inter manager Antonio Conte believes that Inter have lacked luck over the course of their two Champions League group stage meetings which they lost 3-2 and 2-0.
The latter result occurred on Wednesday night and despite having several key players absent, Zinedine Zidane’s Blancos side managed to record a win and leave Inter’s hopes of qualification to the next round of the Champions League in tatters.
Inter are sitting bottom of group B after four games played. They have two games left to play and face an uphill battle to achieve qualification.
“We are not really lucky against Real Madrid, given that in the first leg we immediately gave a couple of gifts to our opponents,” he told UEFA’s official broadcaster UEFA TV following the match at San Siro.
“Today we gave away a penalty after a few minutes, but I think that beyond the penalty, Vidal’s sending off killed us sportingly. It is already difficult playing against Real but being a man and a goal down makes it even more difficult.”
Next the former Juventus and Italian national team manager was asked about whether Real Madrid winning the match came down to their experience compared to Inter’s experience.
“We are talking about two teams that at the moment are on two different levels. Real Madrid have won this competition in recent history and are always protagonists.
“We are making a comeback, this is the third year being in the Champions League and we know that there is path to be followed with great humility. We must work trying to bridge this gap, and then try to be protagonists.”
In conclusion Conte, who is into his second year as manager of Inter, was asked about his team’s reaction following Vidal’s sending off.
“For sure the attitude was right. I thanked the boys because they know we can win or lose, the important thing is to do it as men.
“They tried to do what they could but when you find yourself up against these teams that we also help with certain situations, it becomes really difficult for everyone.”