Inter coach Simone Inzaghi vented his frustrations at the officiating after the Nerazzurri were held to a 2-2 draw against Monza in Serie A this evening.
The Nerazzurri were twice pegged back at the U-Power Stadium, including deep into stoppage time, but saw a Francesco Acerbi goal ruled out when 2-1 up, due to an alleged push by Roberto Gagliardini.
However, replays suggested that Monza defender Pablo Mari had been tripped by teammate Armando Izzo, and in an interview with Italian television broadcaster Sky Sport Italia, and as reported by FCInterNews.it, Inzaghi blasted the referee and his assistants.
“We are very angry, there was an error. After five years of VAR, a foul was called in which two players from the Monza team are hindering each other,” the former Lazio coach declared.
“It would have been 3-1, a victory. Instead we are here to talk about a draw that comes from a serious mistake.”
Inzaghi admitted that he had expected more from his players though and expected a reaction, whilst still maintaining that Inter ought to have gone two goals clear.
“That’s always the case that I want more from those who came on, but right now it’s difficult for me to comment.
“I’m thinking of the incident, there’s so much regret because we knew we would have faced a team that would have created problems for us.
“Then there’s the injuries to Calhanoglu and Barella, I’m hoping it’s nothing serious. There is great bitterness in me and in the management.
“We have to carry on knowing that we need to work harder and better, that we need to recover all the players. We were coming from two very important victories, we suffered tonight but at 3-1 the match would have been over.”
Inter came into the game off the back of a crucial 1-0 win over league leaders Napoli on Wednesday, and Inzaghi revealed what he told the team after the costly draw.
“I said that you have to take it one game at a time without looking at the table. In the last nine games we have won seven.
“Unfortunately we dropped points at the start of the season, now we have to make up for them by trying to win matches like tonight that are well within our reach.”
Inter have a worse defensive record on the road than at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, as evidenced by conceding twice tonight, with Inzaghi admitting that improvements were needed.
“It’s a fact, we concede too many away. I haven’t reviewed the goals yet. In the first goal we tripled and immediately added, with the defence lined up. We needed to do better.
“It’s a draw that slows us down but that must keep us going stronger than before aware that tonight we have been penalised.”
The Nerazzurri lost Hakan Calhanoglu and Nicolo Barella to injury, whilst they failed to make an impact after striker Edin Dzeko was substituted, but Inzaghi refused to criticise their replacements.
“Absolutely, they are three very important players for us. Two substitutions were forced, the other a choice.
“Three days ago the substitutions gave us a hand, tonight Gagliardini and Asllani did well, Gosens too. We mustn’t lower our heads but keep working to recover points,” he concluded.
Inter must now turn their attention to the Coppa Italia, as they face Parma on Tuesday.
