Simone Inzaghi after Inter’s loss to Leverkusen: “A shame to lose this way”

Serie A champions Inter took on German champions Bayer Leverkusen at the Bay Arena in the Champions League today, as they failed to pick up all three points.

It was a 90th minute goal from Nordi Mukiele that helped Leverkusen pick up the win and it was the first goal that Inter have conceded in the entire Champions League campaign.

Inter showed little in attack as they lacked the final ball throughout. Leverkusen hit the bar once in the first half, as Inter didn’t manage to pull off anything of note in attack in the second half.

Simone Inzaghi spoke to Sky after the game and he expressed disappointment about the performance from his players.

He said, as relayed by TMW: “It wasn’t one of our best games, but we were facing an opponent of absolute value who approached the game better. After the crossbar we controlled the game, maybe a little too much, we could have dared more but we lacked quality in the last 25 meters.

“Then it’s a shame to lose in this way because it takes away our unbeaten run but it doesn’t affect our path, we will probably still be in the top eight. It will be decided in January, but we will have our destiny in our hands.”

Speaking about the goal that Inter conceded in the 90th minute, the Italian said:

“There was also a deflection, Darmian saw it at the last minute but at that moment we should have been more careful. In the second half we had done worse than the first, but there were no warnings.

“But this is the Champions League and we move forward with our heads held high, with a positive result you keep this team behind you who also showed tonight that they deserve to be among the top, but we will think about it from January. We will analyse it calmly, we did not play a great game but there is great respect for the opponent who was of great quality.”

Inter are fourth in the Champions League and on the way to the next round. A win in the remaining few games can guarantee them qualification.

Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN