Inter Milan Coach Reacts To Serie A Setback: ‘Credit To Genoa, Lautaro Martinez Absence Can’t Be An Excuse’

Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi feels that Genoa were good value for their draw this evening.

The Nerazzurri boss spoke to Italian broadcaster DAZN after the match, via FCInterNews. He praised the Grifone for their performance, and also rejected the notion that Lautaro Martinez’s absence was an excuse for the result.

For the first time in a month, Inter slipped up in Serie A this evening.

The Nerazzurri had found the opening goal towards the end of the first half. Striker Marko Arnautovic scored his first ever goal for Inter in Serie A to break the deadlock.

But then not long after, Genoa defender Radu Dragusin responded with a towering header from a set piece.

And from then on, neither side could break through again.

It was a frenetic start to the second half. Genoa’s high press and physicality from set pieces caused Inter plenty of problems.

Then as the second half wound down, both teams noticeably dropped off in terms of energy.

Inter Coach Inzaghi: Genoa Deserve Credit For Serie A Draw

After the match, Inzaghi remarked that “We knew what kind of match we were getting into.”

“Genoa are a team in great form physically and mentally,” he continued. “It was a hard-fought match.”

“The two teams played well in the first half.”

Inzaghi continued that “I can’t blame the guys for anything, but after we went ahead we shouldn’t have conceded in injury time.”

“The guys gave everything they had. We’ll end 2023 in a great place in a table, but also knowing that matches like this have big pitfalls.”

Inzaghi said that “We hadn’t conceded from a set piece before this evening. We had to defend better.”

“And then after we conceded, it changed the way that the second half went.”

The Nerazzurri coach remarked that “We moved the ball better in the second half. We had a great chance through Acerbi, which the keeper did very well with.”

“And then we also conceded a couple counterattacks.”

Inzaghi said that “Both teams had some problems with the pitch.”

“We were up against a team who defended medium-low.”

“We had to move the ball faster,” the Inter coach argued. “Which is what we usually do.”

“But tonight we had difficulties due to the quality of the opponent, and due to the pitch.”

“We also have to give lots of credit to Genoa, who played a great match,” Inzaghi said.

And regarding the absence of captain Martinez, Inzaghi remarked that “It can’t be an excuse.”

“We also had Dimarco and Cuadrado out,” he noted.

“We hope to have [Dimarco and Martinez] back for Verona at the start of next month.”

And Inzaghi made clear that “Even without them we did well in our last match. But here we were against a tough team who have only lost at home to Fiorentina this season, and we couldn’t get the job done.”