Inter Frustrates Again

Inter’s clash against Real Madrid was the glamour tie of this round of matches in the Champions League. Both teams should be battling for the top two spots in the group but instead are battling to just qualify from a tricky group. It was like a final for both teams billed as such more by Real Madrid than Inter. The result frustrated and annoyed me so much that I punched into the sofa at the final whistle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1F50zliyXf4&feature=onebox

Opening Exchanges

Both teams played openly, taking the game to their opponents. It was in Real Madrid’s DNA to attack while many would expect Inter to sit back, contain their opponents and hit on the counter. That was not the case as Inter looked to get on the ball and attack their opponents too.

In the first half, I felt Inter didn’t play with the character and confidence they showed when they played against Barcelona at a packed Camp Nou last season. I felt we were a bit nervous and lacking in confidence. We ceded possession a bit too easily for my liking. Lautaro Martinez couldn’t get the ball to stick with him, many players were slipping on the pitch and Arturo Vidal was chasing shadows. In forward positions, we were wasteful in our final pass and cross.

Quickfire Real Double

For the goals that we conceded, I felt both were a touch too soft and avoidable. For the first goal, we can consider ourselves to be a bit unlucky as it looked like Ferland Mendy had pushed Achraf Hakimi in his back. The VAR didn’t pull it up and Hakimi was not spared his blushes. His back pass was short and Karim Benzema nipped in to round Samir Handanovic to open the scoring.

For the second goal, we should have seen this routine coming as it has been played out many times by Real. A corner met by the head of Sergio Ramos that results in a goal. What people might miss is the sly block by Casemiro on Stefan de Vrij as the Dutchman looked to challenge his Spanish counterpart. In the end, Ramos wasn’t met by a stiff challenge to score.

Inter Fights Back

The timing of our goal was crucial as it came within two minutes of conceding our second. Nicolo Barella’s intuitive assist was swept home by Martinez and it gave the team the necessary belief. In the second half, I felt we were more assured and aggressive as we pinned Real back and got a deserved equaliser through Ivan Perisic. We were in the ascendancy at that point and could have scored a third. Martinez’s shot hit the outside of the post and Perisic dragged his shot wide. Once again, our profligacy haunted us.

Frailty Exposed Again

It was compounded by another frailty that we have shown this season, susceptibility to the counter-attack. Real hit us with the speed of their teenage substitutes and Rodrygo smashed the winner, a sickening blow to the guts. We couldn’t get a third equalising goal and we are left feeling very frustrated again. The performance wasn’t bad but it could have been better. On the balance of play, a draw would have been the fairest result. Either team could have won it and unfortunately for us, it was Real.

Not Good Enough

After last season’s impressive and commendable away performances against Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund, this was another one. But you don’t get points for putting in a strong performance at this level. We need the three points, we need to validate the performance with a result. Post-match, Antonio Conte and other players spoke about details that made the difference and they couldn’t be further from the truth.

Once again it is not Conte’s fault if we make mistakes in defence or don’t take our chances. The criticism I can level at him was that he brought off the wrong player. He shouldn’t have brought Nicolo Barella, who was playing very well, off. His favourite child, Arturo Vidal should have been roped off instead. After his performance in the Milan derby, this is the second big game where Vidal has looked too slow against younger and faster opponents. So much for signing experienced players, Conte. It is not working out as it is not adding value to the team. The pressure will keep mounting on the team and the manager as long as we keep getting negative results.