Simone Inzaghi highlighted Roberto Firmino’s ‘incredible’ goal as a turning point in Inter Milan’s 2-0 Champions League last-16 defeat to Liverpool at the San Siro, speaking to Sky Italia.
A 2-0 win, away from home, in the first leg of a daunting last-16 tie in the back yard of one of Europe’s most impressive club sides. Such a scoreline paints the picture of an outstanding performance, a team stepping up to produce their very best on the biggest of stages.
But while it would be a little unfair to call the eventual scoreline a San Siro ‘smash and grab’, the fact that Inzaghi described Inter’s display as their best of the entire campaign – a feeling reciprocated by several Nerazzurri stars – tells it’s own story.
Until Firmino guided a gorgeous header into the back of Samir Handanovic’s net with 75 minutes on the clock, there was only one team who looked like scoring in Milan.
And it wasn’t Jurgen Klopp’s.
Did Liverpool get lucky at Inter Milan?
“This is football,” Inzaghi sighs. “We hope not to always meet Liverpool but I am happy and proud of my team. We played a great match, in our best moment.
“When we deserved to score, they punished us by scoring an incredible goal.
“They are among the best teams in Europe. We deserved more but this must give us great self-esteem for what is to come. It must be a good omen. I congratulated the boys.
“This season, we had never played against a team as strong as Liverpool. It is difficult to comment on such a result but I am equally happy.”
It’s not often a manager is brimming with pride after a 2-0 home defeat that almost certainly brings the curtain down on his side’s European campaign.
But, on Wednesday night, Inter went toe-to-toe with Liverpool and very nearly landed a knockout blow. At least until Firmino, and then Mo Salah, dragged Jurgen Klopp’s side off the ropes.
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