nter caretaker Coach Stefano Vecchi said they lacked “quality on the ball, which ought to be our strength” in a 2-1 defeat to Southampton.
Frank de Boer was sacked this week and Primavera youth team boss Vecchi thrown in at the deep end at St Mary’s while the search for a new Coach continues.
“I think the team put in an organised, determined and spirited performance against a very physical side that also plays good football,” Vecchi told Sky Sport Italia.
“We really caused Southampton huge problems. While we did well in the first half, in the second we fumbled a few too many passes and failed to make the most of the counter-attacks.
“We also need to learn how to control the ball better, because otherwise we’ll be under constant pressure and it wears you down.”
Ever Banega was moved into a more advanced role behind lone centre-forward Mauro Icardi.
“Banega has great character and quality. Today he did well for large spells of the game, but fell away towards the end. I kept him in anyway because he could guarantee more quality in the passing.
“When we found him between the lines, he was able to create passes and spark important chances. He gave his all, as everyone did, but clearly everybody can do better.”
Inter have lost eight of their total 15 games this season, so are they getting accustomed to this being the situation?
“There hasn’t been much time to work tactically, even if we did a few things certainly. There won’t be time for the next game either. I tried to send confidence and positive signals to the squad, I saw great focus and intensity, we fell away in the second half, but above all weren’t consistent in terms of quality, which ought to be our strength.
“When Southampton pushed us into our own half, it was because we didn’t use the ball well when we did get it. If every time you are under pressure, the pass out of defence is poor, then naturally you’re going to get pegged back.
“We lacked some quality in controlling the ball and going on the counter-attack, so we were forced to sit deep.”
Vecchi has to prepare a Serie A match against Crotone on Sunday evening, so how will he act after this debut defeat?
“We must try to eliminate any type of negativity to emerge from this situation and collectively try to control the game more.
“Despite everything, we went close to winning here, but showed our limitations in the second half. When you start to believe in miracles, then miracles happen. Inter are a big club with talented players, so they don’t need a miracle, we just have to find the right path.
“Qualification from this group is probably compromised, though anything can happen in football, but you have to play at the same level for 95 minutes to win and this evening we didn’t do that.”
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Claude Puel insists it was “very hard to play a great team like Inter,” but Southampton reacted well to win 2-1.
The Saints had lost the reverse fixture 1-0 to an Antonio Candreva volley, but since then Coach Frank de Boer has been sacked and replaced by caretaker manager Stefano Vecchi.
"I think it was a fantastic game for my players, because all the scenarios were against us tonight,” said Southampton Coach Puel.
“We dominated the first half, but we went 1-0 down and just before half-time we missed a penalty. There were also many saves from the opponent's goalkeeper, but we persisted and all the players kept their calm and quality on the pitch, and we came back to score this first goal with Virgil (van Dijk) and then after with the second. All the team were rewarded tonight.
"We lost the first game against Inter, which was a shame, because we played a very good game, but it was important at home to make the difference.
“It was very interesting, because I think we played a very good team, with a good spirit. It was not the same team that we saw in the last game and it was very hard to play a great team like Inter Milan, but we saw a very good game from my team.
“I'm proud of my players. All the squad have kept the good spirit and the good attitude and now it's important to continue this work.
“The reaction and the strong character of my team was fantastic.”