Inter head coach Simone Inzaghi feels that the team showed that they’re on track in their preseason preparations despite a flat 0-1 loss to Lens in a friendly clash this evening.
Speaking to InterTV after the match, the coach gave his immediate reaction to the loss, and admitted that their first-half display in particular wasn’t up to par, but also stressed that there’s still time to prepare.
Inter played their third friendly of the preseason against Lens, losing 0-1 in a match where many of the squad were still getting minutes into their legs and the attack was clearly lacking sharpness.
More will have to be done to get the team prepared for the start of their Serie A season against Lecce in three weeks, but the coach feels that things are heading in the direction that they need to be for their objectives.
“We faced a team who have spent more time preparing than us,” he said, “it was a good test of where we’re at.”
“In the first half we could have done better even despite the difference in fitness,” he continued. “In the second we did well, we just needed to make the most of our chances.”
He conceded that it’s “Too bad about conceding the late goal, we don’t like to lose, even in friendlies. We knew it would be a difficult match.”
Inzaghi stated that “We definitely need to improve our physical condition, we already knew that when we planned these friendlies.”
“In the second half we would have deserved a goal, we missed two chances we had to score,” he continued. “Sorry for that, but we’re on the right track. We still have three weeks of work left before our league debut.”
Of the players just now introduced to the squad after late arrivals to training, the coach said that “Their response is good. There are some players who’re trying to catch up with the others.”
“We’ve raised everyone’s minutes,” he continued, “now in the next few weeks we’ll try to improve everyone’s physical condition.”