Inter Youth Sector Director Roberto Samaden has given his thoughts on the course of the Inter Primavera season after the team were eliminated from the Primavera competition in a 3-2 loss to Empoli.
Speaking to Inter TV as reported by FCInterNews, the Italian was positive about the accomplishments of the team despite failing to reach the final.
The Primavera side were playing for a place in the final against Atalanta, but could not hold on to a 2-1 halftime lead, succumbing to late goals in both normal time and extra time to come out second best in a two-sided thriller which will have been heartbreaking for the players and fans.
Samaden does not deny the disappointment and sadness with the outcome, but he chooses to put his focus on the impressive campaign which came before the season was ended in such dramatic circumstances.
The Director is full of praise for both the young players who put in impressive displays as they hope to catch the eye of the first team going forward, and head coach Amando Madonna.
On the result against Empoli he had this to say:
“It hurts a lot to go out like this, but you have to be objective and it would have also been very disappointing for Empoli not to qualify, if we had done so.”
“We suffered for most of the game, then we were able to reverse the result, but we weren’t able to hold onto it in the second half.”
On the season of the whole, Samaden said:
“I felt like congratulating the boys and the staff because it was an extraordinary season, regardless of the result of the semifinal. There is regret because we were not able to express all our qualities this evening, but that is part of being a young side.”
“We must give them credit, and, beyond individual moments, I believe that the result is fair.”
Samaden praised the work done by the staff in extraordinary circumstances:
“The coach and the staff did an extraordinary job. First of all because the championship usually takes place over ten months and here was played in five, with games being played every three days.”
“There were debuts for players born in 2003 and 2004 during the season. This is our job and we have to keep doing it.”
“Obviously we would have preferred to reach the final and go all the way,” he continued, “but this is the result on the pitch and we have to accept it.”
Looking forward from the disappointment of the semifinal, Samaden shifted focus to the future:
“Soon the season will start again, and, especially for those with chances to play in the first team, there will not even be the possibility of stopping. The hope is to return to play regularly and at the right times, with the right modalities.”
“Being kids, playing every three days like this doesn’t let them be as ready and prepared as adult players can be. We hope that next season can be normal and we can continue playing games like these.”
