Inter faced perhaps their greatest setback this Serie A season after going 2-1 down to hosts Bologna at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara in what was the extra game they had in hand, speaking of which coach Simone Inzaghi remains optimistic regarding the Nerazzurri’s chances of retaining the Scudetto crown.
Ivan Perisic’s thunderous early strike opened the deadlock, before Marko Arnautovic came calling with a towering header from Bologna’s first effort on goal. However, it was substitute goalkeeper Andrei Radu’s 81st minute howler that ended up breaking Nerazzurri hearts and might very well cost the club a second successive Scudetti.
When quizzed if his team will be mentally affected by the scoreline, Inzaghi was dismissive and urged his team to react to the ‘heavy defeat’.
“The team has to react because we know it’s a heavy defeat, we didn’t deserve to lose because at 1-0 we had so many opportunities to double and even after their 1-1, we could score. Then their goal cut our legs,” he said (via FCInter1908).
Nevertheless, Inzaghi maintained his optimism, urging his team to get back up and win the remaining games at hand as they now play catch-up with Milan.
He said: “After such a defeat it is difficult to be (optimistic), but I know that I have very strong players and very strong men, so I know that we will play the next ones in the best way. Until three hours ago we were masters of our destiny and now we are no longer so.”
The ex-Lazio tactician went on to say that anything can happen in the remaining four games before the season ends.
“There are 4 games left and 12 points available. It has been a championship of surprises, anything can happen if we win the last few games,” he said.
After 34 games, Inter remain second with 72 points, two behind league-leaders Milan. They travel to Udinese next, before hosting Empoli at home.