Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde believes Inter “without doubt are good enough for the Champions League Round of 16, but anxiety got to them.”
The Nerazzurri had to match Borussia Dortmund’s result against Slavia Prague and would be sure of qualification with a victory this evening, but they lost 2-1 and drop into the Europa League instead.
Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde believes Inter “without doubt are good enough for the Champions League Round of 16, but anxiety got to them.”
The Nerazzurri had to match Borussia Dortmund’s result against Slavia Prague and would be sure of qualification with a victory this evening, but they lost 2-1 and drop into the Europa League instead.
“You can think about how a game will go, but you ultimately don’t know for sure what will happen,” the Barcelona boss told Sky Sport Italia.
“Inter pressed us well early on and kept us pinned back, but we emerged over time. I think they were increasingly irritable because the goal wasn’t coming and they had three ruled offside, so it got to them.”
Valverde was asked if seeing Antonio Conte’s men going out in the group phase was a surprise.
“Inter without doubt are good enough to go through to the Champions League last 16, as they played so well for example in the first half at Camp Nou and then in Dortmund.
“I think the anxiety of the goal that wasn’t coming in the second half got to them and affected their performance.”