Inzaghi Lauds Inter Players for Their ‘Heart and Soul’ but Claims Efforts Fell Short in Roma Defeat

Inter Milan poured everything into their home clash with AS Roma on Sunday, with manager Simone Inzaghi acknowledging the effort but lamenting it wasn’t enough to prevent a third defeat in just a week, jeopardising their season’s aspirations.

The 1-0 setback at the San Siro came on the heels of a disappointing Coppa Italia elimination, suffering a 3-0 defeat to AC Milan in the semi-final second leg on Wednesday. Once in pursuit of a treble, Inzaghi’s team now risks finishing the season empty-handed.

This marked Inter’s second consecutive league defeat, following a 1-0 loss at Bologna the previous weekend, leaving them tied on points with Napoli, who can extend their lead at the top when they take on Torino later today.

“This week has seen us suffer three losses, which are painful, but the team maintained a level of clarity,” Inzaghi told DAZN.

“In the first half, we gave it our all, and the fans witnessed our commitment. It’s unfortunate to lose such a crucial match at home, yet the support we received from our fans was uplifting, even in defeat.

“In the second half, we displayed our usual passion on the pitch, and they will always have my heartfelt appreciation. We deserved more from this, but that’s the nature of football.”

Inter have little time for reflection on their recent setbacks and must quickly regroup as they face Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday, with the Spanish side freshly buoyed by their Copa del Rey victory over Real Madrid.

“We aren’t accustomed to experiencing three defeats in a row; discussions about set-pieces or penalties feel futile,” Inzaghi remarked.

“We need to rebuild our energy; in three days, we’re heading to Barcelona. We don’t need to analyse their match from last night to appreciate the quality of their team. We approach this challenge with respect, but not with fear.

“We have to respond following this challenging week. A positive result could serve as a turning point, but the key will lie within ourselves.”