'Everyone expected us to finish fourth' - Inzaghi praises Inter Milan stars after losing Serie A title to AC Milan

Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi has chosen to praise his players despite losing the 2021/22 Serie A title to AC Milan on the final day of the season.

Inter picked up a 3-0 victory at home against Sampdoria on Sunday but it mattered little as AC Milan also won by the same scoreline away at Sassuolo for the Rossoneri to claim the title.

Milan needed a victory to clinch their first Serie A trophy in 11 years with the Stefano Pioli-led side ensuring that the title race went down to the last day with a 2-0 home victory over Atlanta in their penultimate match of the season.

Inter Milan lost key personnel such as manager Antonio Conte, striker Romelu Lukaku, and wing-back Achraf Hakimi before the start of the season ahead of the defence of their 2021 title.

Chinese-owned Suning Group also scaled down on their financial commitment to the club, as the effects of the Covid-19 bit down on the coffers of the club owners.

In Inzaghi's post-match press conference with DAZN as reported by Football Italia, the Inter manager lauded his team for pulling through a difficult season.

Inzaghi said: “The main sentiment is pride, I think, with the way the fans welcomed us to the stadium today and their final applause too.

“I congratulate the squad on an excellent season that could’ve been extraordinary with the Scudetto. I congratulate Milan on reaching 86 points, but also congratulate us, because 84 is nothing to be sniffed at. 

"I am proud of this squad, we did great things, as did Milan. The greatest satisfaction was going from the predictions we’d finish outside the top four to the same people saying we’d have the Scudetto sealed up by January. Since I arrived, the opinion on Inter has changed and that is thanks to our work.”