Inter club captain and number one goalkeeper Samir Handanovic has insisted that it is not time for Inter to cry despite just being eliminated from the UEFA Champions League at the group stage for the third consecutive season.
Inter had to beat Shakhtar Donetsk to stand any chance at qualification but ended up drawing 0-0 with the Ukrainian powerhouses.
“We gave everything. It was a balanced group, we lost the opportunity in Kiev and today. We had to do better, but there is no time to cry.
“The league and Coppa Italia remain,” he explained in an interview with Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia, which took place immediately after the full time whistle at San Siro.
The veteran Slovenian shot-stopper was then asked if Inter are not a Champions League team to which he responded: “Yes, the points say so and the pitch never lies. There are six games and you have to accept the verdict.”
He was then asked what he and his teammates did wrong against Shakhtar Donetsk, who were also eliminated as a consequence of drawing.
“We tried everything, but didn’t get a goal. The game was going in a different direction, I thought they wanted something more but they were satisfied.”
In conclusion Handanovic, who is under contract with Inter until the end of this season, took a look ahead to Inter’s next match which comes away to Cagliari this coming Sunday.
“When it doesn’t go well in the Champions League, it devastates you with bitterness, but we must immediately think of the match with Cagliari. We had this game in hand, we only failed to score a goal.”
