Former Inter Milan midfielder Stephane Dalmat feels that the club wasted qualification to the Champions League quarter-final in the first leg.
The Nerazzurri won the first leg of the Round of 16 at home against Atletico Madrid by a single goal.
Marko Arnautovic scored the solitary strike in the 79th minute. However, the Austrian himself had spurned several glorious chances. Others like Lautaro Martinez also had their chances.
On the contrary, Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer didn’t have a save to make during the first leg.
However, Dalmat argues that Inter’s lack of precision in front of goal returned to haunt them in the second leg.
The Spaniards had a comprehensively improved display in front of their supporters. They managed to draw level on aggregate and eventually prevail in penalty shootouts.
“For me, Inter lost their ticket to the quarter-finals in the first leg,” said the Frenchman in his interview with Sportitalia via FcInterNews.
“Based on the action, they should have sealed the deal at San Siro.
“Given the opportunities the Nerazzurri had, they could have won 3-0 with a bit more malice.
“We knew that it would be very difficult in Madrid. No one managed to win there this season. And once you get to penalties, it becomes like a lottery.”
Stephane Dalmat Notes Inter Milan Should Have Scored More Goals In First Leg Vs Atletico Madrid
Nevertheless, Dalmat urges the Nerazzurri to keep their heads high and focus on winning the Scudetto.
“I would tell Lautaro and his teammates that missing a penalty is part of the game and even the greatest players have been through it.
“The season is not over at all. The objective was clearly to win the Scudetto. And the Nerazzurri have accumulated a great advantage already.
“Then of course, with this advantage, it was natural to think of pouring energy into the Champions League to get as far as possible.
“However, they found themselves against a team that would not have been easy for anyone to face.”
