Lautaro Martinez scored a stunning goal on the hour-mark put Inter ahead but their hopes of a comeback were shattered when Alexis Sanchez was sent off for second yellow card few minutes later.
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Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi admits that his side fought Liverpool “on an even keel” after being knocked out of the Champions League last-16 stage courtesy of a 2-1 aggregate loss. The Italian champions won the second leg fixture 1-0 at Anfield on Tuesday but their 2-0 loss at San Siro cost them. Lautaro Martinez scored a stunning goal on the hour-mark put Inter ahead but their hopes of a comeback were shattered when Alexis Sanchez was sent off for second yellow card few minutes later.
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“There are certainly great regrets, as we wanted to reach this Round of 16 with all our strength, we were up against Liverpool, who along with Manchester City and Bayern Munich are the best team in Europe right now, and we fought them on an even keel,” Inzaghi told Sky Sport Italia.
Inter gave a spirited performance in the first leg at home but were made to pay for their lack of finishing in front of goal. The Nerazzurri created more chances in the match but Liverpool scored two goals in the last 15 minutes to take a healthy lead. And that was enough for the Reds to seal a last-8 berth.
“We are probably paying the price for the final 15 minutes of the first leg, because I think we had two very good games against an excellent opponent.
“I think the first 75 minutes saw us deserve far more, then we conceded on a corner, which wasn’t even a good one, and the second goal really knocked us down.
“We came to Anfield to give our best and we emerge fortified from this meeting with a top team. During our best period of the game and the worst for them, Alexis Sanchez was sent off, that was bad timing.”
Sanchez was lucky to receive only a yellow card for his studs up challenge on Thiago Alacantra in the first half. But the Chilean received his second yellow and marching orders when his follow through caught the ankle of Fabinho after the hour-mark.
Inzaghi is known to substitute players who are on yellow, but opted to keep Alexis because the forward was causing all sorts of problems to the Liverpool defence with his movements. When asked about whether he regret not making the change earlier, Inzaghi said: “Absolutely not, because in that moment I needed Sanchez on the pitch and was not going to change him on a night like this.”
