Former Inter defender Riccardo Ferri has said that is too simplistic to say that Inter lost against Liverpool because their strikers did not take their chances, according to a report in the Italian media today.
Speaking during an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Riccardo Ferri explained that the strikers for Inter worked very hard against a quality Liverpool side and it is natural in that situation that you are less potent when you get a chance to score.
“It’s too easy to say the strikers missed their chances in front of goal. When you play against teams of the value of Liverpool, one cannot ignore the value of the opponent. You spend physical and mental energy, more than in other matches and a loss of potency is physiological.
“Dzeko and Lautaro, but also Sanchez when he entered, did a great job: they worked a lot to close the spaces and sacrificed themselves, it is normal that there is no coldness in front of goal.
“When you play against teams like this, you know that on the other side you have a war machine: you have to do everything perfectly, it is not easy to always be on the right track. It also happened to AC Milan.”
When asked what Inter could have done to improve, Riccardo Ferri said that the biggest issue was conceding two goals from set pieces.
“In the first half they closed the supplies for the attackers well thanks to the extraordinary work of the two strikers. In the second half, the team we know was revised: invasion of the opposing half of the pitch with lots of ball possession.
“Only the goal and a little luck were missing: I am thinking of Calhanoglu’s crossbar hit in the first half and Perisic’s cross in the second half, a little high for Lautaro.
“Firmino’s goal cut Inter’s energy. Here, perhaps the biggest regret is having conceded two goals from set pieces: we don’t expect it from Inter. Firmino was lucky, but Bastoni left him too much space.”
In terms of which Inter players were impressive, Riccardo Ferri picked out Ivan Perisic, Hakan Calhanoglu and Arturo Vidal.
“Perisic and Calhanoglu, Vidal also played a great match. But Barella’s ability to steal the ball and restart was lacking, as he has no real substitute. Perisic was master of Alexander-Arnold and also received applause from Klopp: he gained awareness and authority in a role he has learned to fill lately.”
Riccardo Ferri feels Inter must repeat the first leg performance when they face Liverpool at Anfield in the second leg as the English side can be got at.
“Liverpool play very high but do not close the flanks, we saw it in the game. If they are caught in speed, they are vulnerable. I believe that Inter should do nothing but repeat the first leg match: there are no alternatives. They played an almost perfect match, at Anfield they will have to take advantage of the opportunities.
“When you have the mentality of a professional footballer, you always have a glimmer of hope. Inter must want to play until the end: the opponent is strong but gives opportunities.
“They are right to believe they can win, but you have to be good at making opportunities happen. And for what I said earlier about wasting energy, it is not easy to change.”
