Inter coach Simone Inzaghi feels that his side were worth more than a point for their performance against AC Milan in the derby and is disappointed with the result.
Speaking to Italian broadcaster DAZN after the match the 45-year-old gave his immediate reaction to a thrilling Milan derby in which he saw his side miss a penalty and spurn a few other good chances to take all three points.
The Nerazzurri went ahead early through a Hakan Calhanoglu penalty, while a Stefan de Vrij own goal not long after meant that each side had gotten on the scoresheet within the first twenty minutes of the match.
The Nerazzurri had other good chances in the first half, however, not least a penalty missed by Lautaro Martinez who had stepped up to take it rather than Calhanoglu for a second time.
The pace of the match rarely let up, with each sides having had good moments, chances, and last-ditch defensive interventions, but given the missed penalty and after a second half where the Nerazzurri looked to be the side who had more of the initiative, the draw does not seem quite satisfactory from an Inter perspective.
“The glass is half empty,” Inzaghi reflected. “We created many chances and missed a penalty, we deserved more. But we faced an excellent team that is deservedly leading in the table. We need to catch up, but there is time and our performances give us confidence.”
“What we have to do is recover energy after this round of matches that ended with some fitness problems,” he went on. “In the last six we have drawn with Milan and Juve when we deserved to win. We are up there, there are so many games to go, there is time and a good margin. We would have liked to give the victory to our fans that we deserved. The derby was played at a very high pace, technically both of us could have played better.”
On the missed penalty the coach stated that “Our penalty takers are Lautaro and Calhanoglu. If we look at draws with Atalanta and tonight we are without four points that would be important.”
“But the players on the pitch decide,” he went on, “we know what those moments are like. He had already played well against Udinese and tonight he did so again. I have many great players and every time I have to choose, I always have serious doubts. It’s not easy to leave Vecino out, Sensi, Vidal, Gagliardini.”
Inzaghi continued that “In the first twenty minutes we didn’t approach it very well, then we started to keep the ball. They are technical, you have to try to command the match, making them tired with a good possession. Only in the final minutes did we lack a bit of clarity.”
On the withdrawals through injury in the second half he stated that “Barella felt muscle fatigue, he asked for the change. Now we will evaluate him. At the end of the first half I had some problems with Dzeko and Bastoni, then I put Correa in. Playing at these rhythms it is normal that some situations like this could happen. Let’s hope they are not serious.”
And on the upcoming international break he stated that “I think it is a source of satisfaction to represent your national team, we will have to make assessments for these players who have gone out with fatigue.”
