Inter coach: 'The ball didn't want to go into Man City's net'

Turkey coach Simone Inzaghi regrets missed opportunities, but believes Inter will soon return to the Champions League final.

"We had a great game and we should be proud," Inzaghi told Sport Mediaset after the final in Turkey. "We must not think about what could have happened, although we deserved more. I hugged each player because they were incredible, as were the fans, and Inter deserved a different result. But I hope they are happy when they saw the way we played tonight."

Coach Inzaghi (in the lead) and Inter players regretfully received the silver medal after losing 0-1 to Man City in the Champions League final at Ataturk Stadium, Istanbul on June 10. Photo: Reuters

In the final at Ataturk Stadium, Istanbul on the evening of June 10, Inter played on par with Man City and even finished and created more chances than Man City. The Italian representative had 44% possession, 14 shots with six on target - compared to 7 and 4 of their opponents.

In the 59th minute, when the score was still 0-0, from a pass back from Bernardo Silva, goalkeeper Ederson and Manuel Akanji gave the ball to each other, allowing Lautaro Martinez to run down to the penalty area to face each other. Instead of passing the ball to his teammate to put the ball into an empty goal, the Argentine striker shot straight from a tight angle and could not beat Ederson. On the sidelines, coach Pep Guardiola knelt down on the field when his team almost conceded a goal.

Di Marca in a situation where he finished two shots in a row, the first shot hit the crossbar, the next shot hit Lukaku. Photo: Reuters

After Rodri broke through, Inter continued to create a series of good chances. In the 71st minute, from a situation where the ball was bouncing around in the penalty area, Federico Dimarco rushed in and headed the European player against the crossbar. The Italian defender continued to head the ball close to the goal, but the ball was blocked by teammate Lukaku.

Two minutes later, Lukaku himself missed the chance with a right-footed shot that went straight at Ederson. The best chance came in the 88th minute, when the Belgian striker headed in a cross from Robin Gosens, but the Man City goalkeeper blocked it with his thigh.

Lukaku (number 90) headed the ball but was blocked by goalkeeper Ederson with his thigh in the 88th minute. Photo: AFP

"In the last 25 minutes, it felt like the ball didn't want to go into the Man City net," Inzaghi regretted. "That happens, unfortunately in a Champions League final. Inter hit the crossbar, got blocked on the line, a shot hit a teammate, everything happened. We fought Man City with our own strength and did it very, very well."

According to Football Italy , Inzaghi had a clever tactical plan to neutralize Man City's attack, in which the duo Francesco Acerbi and Alessandro Bastoni effectively contained the most dangerous explosive Erling Haaland.

"With this spirit, arrangement and determination, I think Inter will soon return to the Champions League final," the 47-year-old coach emphasized, while defending Hakan Calhanoglu and Lautaro Martinez against a wave of criticism for their lackluster performance.

Key developments of the match Man City 1-0 Inter.

Inzaghi suffered his second defeat in a title race as a manager, ending a seven-game winning streak in the final. He admitted it was a strange feeling and needed time to digest the defeat, but was proud that Inter could compete on equal terms with Man City. The Italian coach, whose contract runs until the summer of 2024, said he would take a few days off before meeting with the board to discuss a renewal and plan transfers.

Hong Duy

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