Inter 1-0 Atletico Madrid: Simone Inzaghi reveals one regret despite triumph
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Simone Inzaghi's Inter got a marginal win over Atletico Madrid in their last-16 first-leg Champions League clash on Tuesday (Credit: Imago/NurPhoto)

Inter 1-0 Atletico Madrid: Simone Inzaghi reveals one regret despite triumph

Seye Omidiora 05:58 - 21.02.2024

The Nerazzurri boss is not resting on his laurels after Tuesday night’s victory over the LaLiga side managed by former teammate Diego Simeone.

Inter Milan continued their unblemished start to 2024 on Tuesday when they defeated Atletico Madrid 1-0 in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League clash at San Siro.

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The Nerazzurri’s goal came in the game’s 79th minute through Marko Arnautovic after the forward had previously failed to put away presentable scoring chances. Be that as it may, Inter boss Simone Inzaghi was not completely at ease after the game.

Inzaghi’s Inter regret

The Inter boss feels his team deserved to win by more than one goal, believing they should have won by a wider margin.

“It’s very satisfying, the lads were wonderful against a physical, technical side that did not make it at all easy,” Inzaghi told Sky Sport Italia via Football Italia. “We know this is only the first leg, the second match will be tough, and certainly, there are regrets for the result considering with all that we created, we deserved a wider scoreline. This is football, we keep going.”

Inzaghi then analysed Tuesday’s game in greater detail, pointing to his team’s erratic passing in the opening half before talking about their opponents, who had no shot on target throughout the game.

Simone Inzaghi
Inzaghi's team limited Atletico's attacking threat on Tuesday night (Credit: Imago/Gribaudi/ImagePhoto)

“We were up against quality opponents but Inter played very well. Let us not forget that when Atletico Madrid have the ball, it is tough to get it off them,” noted the Inter boss. “We probably made a few too many misplaced passes in the first half, but Atleti were clammed up with two lines.

“We moved the ball around better after the break and I think we deserved more than 1-0. The midfielders sacrificed themselves and we worked as a team. The substitutions helped, as we weren’t our usual selves in the first seven or eight minutes of the second half, but we got back on track and created chances that we should’ve scored.

“I know that Sommer didn’t make any actual saves, but there were a few situations like the Samuel Lino shot and Alvaro Morata header where we could’ve done better.”

Simone Inzaghi
Inzaghi got the better of old Lazio teammate Diego Simeone (Credit: Imago/IPA Sport)

What comes next for Inzaghi and Inter?

After getting the better of his former teammate at Lazio, Inzaghi’s men have secured their ninth straight victory in all competitions in 2024. Last year’s Champions League runners-up have not been beaten in any game since suffering a 2-1 loss to Bologna in the Coppa Italia, ending their chances of claiming three consecutive domestic cup titles. 

The Serie A champions-elect travel to Lecce on February 25 before facing Atalanta, Genoa and Bologna in the lead-up to the reverse fixture with Atletico on March 13.