Simone Inzaghi feels that Inter Milan are “not slowing down” in their journey despite bombing out of the Champions League against Atletico Madrid.
The Nerazzurri coach spoke in a press conference after his team’s collapse in the round of sixteen second leg yesterday evening, via FCInterNews.
Inter will not be going on to the Champions League quarterfinals.
The Nerazzurri were not able to hold onto their first leg advantage against Atletico, allowing the Colchoneros to turn it around with a 2-1 win on the night to make the score 2-2 on aggregate in the tie.
And in the ensuing penalty shootout, it was the Spanish team who held their nerve.
This leaves Inter at a bit of an awkward stage in their season.
The Nerazzurri are still prohibitive favourites to win the Serie A title. They have a whopping sixteen-point advantage over city rivals AC Milan in the league table.
But there is nothing else for Inter to fight for. They went out of the Coppa Italia in December, and have now also exited the Champions League.
Simone Inzaghi: Inter Not Slowing Down Despite Champions League Exit Vs Atletico Madrid
Inzaghi said that “The guys have to be proud of what they have achieved.”
“I’ve already spoken to them,” the coach added.
“The entire Inter family is disappointed. For the club, and for our wonderful fans.”
“But Atletico deserve a lot of credit. They didn’t give up even when they were two goals down.”
“In the second half they were the better side,” Inzaghi admitted. “We dropped too deep.”
Inzaghi also praised one player in particular. “Bisseck did well,” he said.
“He came on and did very well as a substitute in a very difficult match.”
“He’s shown in recent months that he had personality. And he has to keep going like that.”
“Thuram fought and worked hard,” Inzaghi continued.
He admitted that the Frenchman “Needed to be more clinical with a couple chances.”
Asked if he thought that the substitutions affected the match, Inzaghi said that “I wouldn’t talk about the substitutions.”
“In the last half hour we did better,” he went on.
“We failed to finish some chances, we probably should have taken advantage of them better.”
“But now, we’re not slowing down on our journey,” the Inter coach was defiant.
“It’s normal to be disappointed, because we’re coming from a season where we reached the final, and in this season’s Champions League we had never lost.”
“But the guys still have to be proud,” Inzaghi said. “They should puff out their chests and keep their heads held high.”
