Turkish national team head coach Stefan Kuntz believes that had midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu taken both penalties in yesterday evening’s derby match against AC Milan, the Nerazzurri would have won.
Speaking in a press conference, as reported by FCInter1908, the coach gave the view that the 27-year-old is a leader on the pitch despite not being very vocal, and also suggested that had he taken the second penalty as he had the first, the Nerazzurri would not have dropped points.
Calhanoglu showed no fear on his first derby against former side AC Milan, winning and then stepping up to take a penalty early on in the encounter.
The midfielder successfully converted it, but when the team won a second penalty later in the half the responsibility of taking it was instead given to Lautaro Martinez whose effort was saved.
Kuntz thinks highly of the midfielder who he manages at international level, and feels that he would have been able to convert the second penalty as he had done the first.
“Hakan Çalhanoglu should have taken the second penalty in last night’s game,” he stated. “If that had been case Inter would have won. Hakan is not a player who talks and shouts a lot on the pitch. But he shows his leadership with his attitude.”
