Simone Inzaghi insists Inter deserved more than a point against Salernitana, but once again failed to ‘kill off the game’ when in a commanding situation.
The Nerazzurri came into the Stadio Arechi off three consecutive Serie A defeats and a midweek Coppa Italia 1-1 semi-final draw away to Juventus.
Robin Gosens had given them the ideal start today, finishing off the Romelu Lukaku assist, but Antonio Candreva’s extraordinary cross-shot looped over Andre Onana into the far top corner for a late Salernitana equaliser.
“It’s really hard to talk about the football tonight, because we all saw what happened,” Inzaghi told DAZN.
“The team put in a strong performance, just two days after the game with Juve. The main regret is that we were unable to score the second goal, at this moment we are really paying a heavy price for not killing off the games.
“The squad puts such an incredible effort in and deserves far more. As a coach, I find it difficult to explain how this ended with a draw after everything that we created. There is huge disappointment, but it must help push us on even more for what awaits us in the next few days.”
It means Inter are now without a win in six competitive matches, their longest negative streak since 10 in February 2018.
This is hardly the best way to prepare for the Champions League quarter-final against Benfica, which will be in Portugal on Tuesday April 11.
Candreva confessed to DAZN afterwards that he had intended to put in a cross rather than surprise Onana, so luck was really not on Inter’s side.
“Ochoa made great saves, we hit the crossbar, the upright… I’d not seen a goal like that in the year and a half I’ve been here,” responded Inzaghi.
If Inter had been caught in joint fourth place by Roma last week, they now risk dropping out of the Champions League zone entirely.
“I see how hard the lads work and fully believe we can do it. I have nothing to reproach them for.”
Romelu Lukaku missed a few sitters in recent weeks and there was another today, the diving header from a couple of yards thumping the crossbar.
“We know there are moments like this for every striker and right now all our forwards are suffering from it. We have to tempt fortune and fate onto our side.”
Edin Dzeko was left on the bench for almost the entire match, so is that a hint the Bosnian will instead partner Lautaro Martinez against Benfica?
“Correa and Lukaku seemed more suited to start today. Playing every 48-72 hours, I need to rotate as much as possible.”
When did Correa seem.more suites to start any games when the others? Never. Inzaghi is incompetent as ever.