Legendary Inter striker Alessandro Altobelli has slammed the notion that Inter were subject to bad luck following their exit from the UEFA Champions League and all of European competition in the past few days.
“Let’s face it, a team that has to win and faces the match as Inter did is not conceivable. There was talk of Real Madrid and Borussia Monchengladbach playing for a draw but I was sure that they would have played in Madrid,” he explained in an interview with Italian daily newspaper Il Giornale, which appeared in yesterday’s print edition.
“Against Shakhtar it was a fundamental match and it was enough just to win to get past the group stage and into the Champions League last 16, which would be an improvement on the result of last year where we went out in the groups.
“For the umpteenth time already in December the Champions League dream ended. I repeat, the one that most embittered me was the approach to this match.”
He was then asked whether he agrees with what many others have said in that Inter were unlucky.
“If you draw 0-0 both times with Shakhtar, if you lose both matches against Real, if you win one match, draw three and lose two, how can you talk about bad luck? You cannot take it up with anyone or anything, you have to take it up only with yourself and without complaining.”
Altobelli was then asked what he thinks happened between Inter manager Conte and Sky Sport Italia pundits Fabio Capello and Anna Billio post-match.
“I understand that it is a bad and hot moment and after the game you are nervous but you have to have respect for every profession. Journalists and pundits ask and you have to answer. You must also be good at answering when things are not going well. It is too easy talking when things turn good.
“Antonio did not exactly act correctly towards those in the studio at Sky. It must be said that I was also amazed that the guests in the studio then started talking about Conte when he was gone away. I would have preferred they had done it while Antonio was still there.”
Next the former Italian national team forward proceeded to discuss whether Inter and Conte should separate immediately or wait until the end of the season to do if things fail.
“We have already talked about it but this divorce would cost too much. Maybe if it didn’t cost so much it would have already happened but in case things get worse, and I hope not of course, I think that I would go on separately at home.”
Altobelli was then asked about Conte’s statements that Inter have now been lucky with referees and whether he agrees with the thoughts of the former Chelsea manager.
“I can’t think that Inter went out of the Champions League due to referees, Inter went out for the game they didn’t play. It was unthinkable to get through to the next round like this.
“In the league there were some negative episodes but at the end year of the year, above all in the league, everything is compensated and whoever deserves to always wins.”
In conclusion, Altobelli came to the defence of current Inter striker Romelu Lukaku who has come in for some criticism for getting in the way of Alexis Sanchez’s header right at the end of the match.
Lukaku was the unfortunate star of the “involuntary rescue” on Sanchez’s sure-footed header. Ungenerous criticism has come to him, don’t you think?
“Has the criticism been ungenerous? I absolutely agree. A minute before that was the strongest in the world for the fans. He is dragging Inter but there he was unlucky. We don’t even know if that header was going in. Having said that, you can’t fault someone like Lukaku.”
