Inter manager Antonio Conte has admitted that it is difficult to face teams like Real Madrid off the back of their 2-0 defeat to Los Blancos.

The result has left Inter’s chances of progression to the Champions League knockout stages in tatters with them requiring a perfect ending to the group and some luck to have any chance of making it to the next round. Inter are still sitting bottom of their group with just two points to their name after four games played.

“It is difficult to play against important teams such as Real Madrid, if you go and concede a goal and go down to 10 men, it becomes a difficult mountain to climb,” he began his post-match analysis in an interview with Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia.

“We have seen the difference between us and them, but this should not overwhelm us. It must make us understand that there is a path to follow with humility and understand where we are, without being bewitched by what is being said outside.”

The former Juventus and Italian national team manager was then asked about the fact that Inter played better when they went down to 10 men and whether the substitutes and system change could have been made earlier.

“We score a lot of goals, but maybe we concede a few more. As for the rest, I repeat the game was immediately uphill and it was difficult to get back in the game also due to a red card which came due to an excess of protests.

“This is the situation and we take note of it. We had been much more aggressive in the first leg. It is too difficult to start by conceding a goal and having a red card, it cut our legs.

“We did well in terms of our desire and determination, let’s not forget that we were playing against Real Madrid and not against a bottom of the class team.”

In conclusion Conte paid tribute to the late Diego Armando Maradona, who passed away aged 60, hours before the game kicked off.

“We are all shedding tears for a person who has made football history and will remain in football history forever.

“He was a player who I marked and I had the pleasure of playing against him. I find it hard to believe that he is gone, I am really very saddened.”