Former AC Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi has said that the 2-0 scoreline in favour of Liverpool on Wednesday was unfair on Inter, according to a report in the Italian media.

Speaking during an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Arrigo Sacchi explained that he thinks Intr played very well despite the defeat and said that they can go to Anfield and win the return leg.

“I know that looking at the result will feel bad, but I believe that Inter, despite the defeat, are not so far from Liverpool and I believe that the Nerazzurri could also win at Anfield.”

Talking more in-depth about the performance, Arrigo Sacchi said that Inter were very passive in the first half but in the second they took the game to Liverpool and were impressive. That is why the 2-0 scoreline is harsh on the hosts.

“Football is really strange. In the first half Liverpool dominated and Inter were watching, with a very Italian attitude. In the second half, however, the Nerazzurri took off their masks and started playing, holding the ball and, consequently, putting the opponents in difficulty.

“And then, when no one was expecting it, here is Firmino’s incredible goal and there the game is over. But the result is exaggerated.”

Arrigo Sacchi’s optimism is fueled by the way that Inter came out in the second-half and performed very well against a quality Liverpool side.

“The first part of the recovery. That is the path that Inter must follow to reach the highest level. And it is not far off. In the first half, however, the team was too shy and wait-and-see, not very courageous.

“Liverpool attacked with seven or eight players, Inter at most with two or three. When, in the second half, they had the command of the game, he created two chances in a few minutes, and the audience raised their heads.”

The area that the team has to improve though is pressing, as Arrigo Sacchi says: “In pressing. You have to work on it with commitment and intensity. Pressing is fundamental because it allows you to be the protagonist even when the opponents have the ball and you force them to play as you want.

“Inter still does little pressing, they have to increase it. Getting the ball back quickly is important because it allows you to play suddenly. In the second half I saw that the Nerazzurri raised the centre of gravity and bothered Liverpool more in the construction of their moves.”

In terms of which player impressed the most, it was Ivan Perisic that Arrigo Sacchi picked out: “Perisic, above all. He was very good. And Brozovic too, who almost never disappoints me. The defenders suffered a little, but they didn’t concede any great chances.

“Maybe something more could have been done upfront, but in the first half Inter attacked with very few men and then everything becomes difficult.”