Luciano Spalletti insisted Fiorentina “put in a fine performance, but Inter deserved the victory and it was a clear penalty.”
Mauro Icardi converted a penalty on the stroke of half-time for a glanced Vitor Hugo handball, then Federico Chiesa’s deflected strike went in off Milan Skriniar.
Just as the Viola were pouring forward, Inter scored the winner against the run of play with Danilo D’Ambrosio after a throw-in.
Luciano Spalletti insisted Fiorentina “put in a fine performance, but Inter deserved the victory and it was a clear penalty.”
Mauro Icardi converted a penalty on the stroke of half-time for a glanced Vitor Hugo handball, then Federico Chiesa’s deflected strike went in off Milan Skriniar.
Just as the Viola were pouring forward, Inter scored the winner against the run of play with Danilo D’Ambrosio after a throw-in.
“In terms of belief, character and fitness levels has improved a great deal. It’s true we were too deep at the start, but then we couldn’t do anything else.
“We’ve not put together some results that improve our position in the Serie A standings,” Spalletti told Sky Sport Italia.
Keita Balde Diao seemed very upset after Spalletti shouted at him at the final whistle and had to be consoled by his teammates.
“I know you like to cause controversy, but I told Politano and Keita at the final whistle. As Fiorentina were pressing us, we had all three forwards wide, but I wanted both Politano and Keita to track back more.
“When Keita came on as a support striker, he helped out a lot, as he kept the ball to feet and took men on, putting us in the opposition half by himself.
“When he moved out wide, he couldn’t figure out what I wanted and we tried to get the message to him. Communication isn’t easy when you’re on the bench, but it’s a way of talking you do in the tension of the moment.
“We can bite each other in the locker room if we have to, but that’s what happens in football.”
Fiorentina Coach Stefano Pioli and director Giancarlo Antognoni complained about the refereeing, above all the penalty for handball.
“It’s a penalty. Otherwise I’ll show you the one from Udinese last season, the penalty they didn’t give us against Parma. It’s a wide arm and it deflects the ball, moving it away from Icardi in the six-yard box. It’s a penalty. No argument,” said a visibly irritated Spalletti.
“I tended to be quiet when these things went against us, but now that they finally give us a penalty, don’t try to take it away from me!
“I tell Fiorentina well done for a fine performance, but nothing more than that, because Inter won and deserved the victory. They scored with a bit of luck, as it took a big deflection.
“They play beautiful football and won back the enthusiasm of the fans in Florence.”