Inter midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu is proud of the Nerazzurri for putting in a gritty performance and reaching the quarterfinals of the Champions League against Porto.
Speaking to Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia after the match, via FCInterNews, the 29-year-old gave his immediate reaction to a tiring match which saw the Nerazzurri hang on to the very end to secure their spot in the last eight of Europe’s top club competition.
Inter did not produce their best attacking display of the season by any stretch against Porto, but their one-goal advantage from the first leg of the round of sixteen tie meant that they didn’t have to.
Every Inter player put in a shift, and Calhanoglu certainly did in midfield, to keep the home side from really getting into their rhythm for long periods.
The Turk was named as the best player on the pitch by UEFA, and for his part he is both proud of this individual achievement, and of the team for getting to the next round of the competition.
“We’re so proud of this achievement, it’s been so many years for this team,” he said after the match.
“We made some errors, but in the end we did a great job defensively, it was tough but I congratulate the team on all their hard work.”
Calhanoglu noted that “Anything can happen in the Champions League, this match renews our motivation. We didn’t score, but we got the job done and reached the next round.”
