Inter head coach Simone Inzaghi deemed his side’s performance in the lacklustre 1-1 draw with Fiorentina insufficient.’ Another underwhelming showing from the Nerazzurri threw their Scudetto hopes into doubt after Napoli’s home win over Udinese earlier today.
While Luciano Spalletti’s team came from behind to win 2-1 at home, Inter could only manage a draw with Fiorentina in Saturday’s derby. After a goalless first half, the visitors took the lead at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza through an unlikely source.
Lucas Torreira turned home Nico Gonzalez’s low cross to hand La Viola an unexpected lead only five minutes into the second half. However, Inter replied quickly as Denzel Dumfries directed his towering header straight through the middle of Pietro Terracciano’s goal from point-blank range.
With almost 40 minutes left on the clock, the Meazza faithful hoped the reigning Serie A champions could replicate Napoli’s recipe from the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Inter thought they could be on the verge of pulling off a comeback only a few minutes beyond the hour mark.
Lorenzo Venuti tackled Lautaro Martinez down to the ground, with Daniele Chiffi immediately pointing to the spot. But after consulting with the side-pitch monitor, the referee overturned his initial decision, giving Fiorentina a free-kick.
Both sides had their chances to wrap up all three points but to no avail. Jonathan Ikone almost stole it away for Vincenzo Italiano’s side right at the death. Yet, Samir Handanovic came up huge in a one-on-one situation to rescue a point for Inter.
The Nerazzurri face the prospect of losing further ground on Milan, who have a chance to move six points clear with a win at relegation-battling Cagliari this evening. Well aware of the significance this stalemate could have on the Serie A title run-in, Inzaghi slammed Inter’s performance in the aftermath.
“The first half was insufficient, because a team like ours must do better. We improved after the break, created more chances and could’ve scored another,” Inzaghi told DAZN as relayed by TUTTOmercatoWEB.
“It’s just an off moment, seven points in seven games is evidently weighing on us psychologically. Fiorentina did better in the first half, we did better in the second, I am not satisfied because we made everyone expect more of us.
“Naturally, the team feels more responsibility now compared to the way people treated us at the start of the season. We had a few perfect months, then a dip, but the lads must stay calm and just keep working. We are creating lots of chances, just not finishing them off the way we used to.“