After the final whistle, Inter coach Luciano Spalletti had the following to say to Sky Sport about the game with Eintracht Frankfurt which ended 0-0.

“The team played with authority and personality, especially during the difficult periods of the game. This consideration goes to performance and not to the result, what comes prior to the results often comes second to the result when you sum things up.”

He then discussed Marcelo Brozovic’s missed penalty in the first half.

“He knows how to hit a penalty just like Ivan Perisic and Matteo Politano, two players that are very good at taking penalties. Of course it happens that you miss one from time to time. Then in difficult games, like this one, there are few players with experience from such games, you also choose based on a feeling. He was convinced he could take it.”

Inter will now have to do without Lautaro Martinez and Kwadwo Asamoah in the second leg through suspension while they may also need to do without Perisic in the return leg after he limped off injured and Spalletti was asked how he intends to deal with more absences.

“I have to think about the events told to me and the players I have at my disposition. Then we have you guys, who always wants to stir in the pot. Also today we were missing a lot of players on midfield, but when it suits you guys, you don’t care at all. We were OK, also for the second leg we will be OK but it is important to get Keita back. As for the rest, I’m not your guy, I have to focus on training the team well.”

Spalletti was then asked if he thinks Inter could have done better on the counter.

“In the first half when we recovered the ball, we played with personality, making choices. During the second half we often found ourselves under a lot of pressure, that left us slower in our decision making and passed the ball without confidence and without speed, something that is required in this sport.

“Our quality was lower and we began losing a lot of physical duels. Some players could have done more in certain situations, sometimes we immediately went for the vertical pass after recovering the ball, thereby losing it. Some moments you choose from what you have trained and some moments you choose with your gut. That’s how we are, but all-in-all we played a great match.”

Cedric Soares made an appearances from the bench and Spalletti was asked if the Portuguese can improve.

“He is a discrete player that knows everything and has two feet from where he can construct the play. Obviously he lacks a bit of physicality, abroad these teams are built from a physical point of view. If you don’t use your central defenders we get in trouble, when they put pressure on you, you have to go for the duels, then you get balls thrown at you and all of a sudden you are in trouble.”

He then provided an update on Perisic’s injury.

“Yes, also after the first half. It’s a muscular fatigue, but I think we managed to get him out in time for him to recover. Then, Perisic is a horse and these muscular problems will pass rapidly for such players.”

The Sky panel then asked Spalletti how he enjoyed his birthday cake prior to the match.

“I don’t like sweets that much and prefer things less smoky. Everybody congratulated me, but I sent the congratulations back and told everyone that we can celebrate after the game as I was born after 11 o’clock at night.”

He was also asked about Mauro Icardi and his situation.

“Marotta has spoken to him therefore you have to ask the people that has been in contact with him.”

In conclusion he was asked if Matias Vecino could be deployed higher up the field due to the amount of absences Inter have.

“Yes, but without him in midfield everything becomes messy. But when he gets inside the area he gets there with a lot of quality.”