Inzaghi harbours regrets after Barca draw but hails Inter showing

Simone Inzaghi admitted he left Camp Nou feeling regretful but hailed Inter’s performance at Barcelona as the Nerazzurri took a significant step to the Champions League knockout stages.

Robin Gosens seemed to have secured qualification for Inzaghi’s visitors on Wednesday, scoring to make it 3-2 in the 89th minute, only for Robert Lewandowski to equalise three minutes later.

It was not the first time Inter had squandered the lead, though, having been pegged back earlier by Lewandowski after second-half goals from Nicolo Barella and Lautaro Martinez followed Ousmane Dembele’s 40th-minute opener.

Despite twice relinquishing the advantage, Inter need just one win from their last two games to progress from Group C, though Inzaghi wishes his side could have sealed qualification with victory in Spain.

“There is regret, for what we have created and for the last chance, with a victory we would have qualified with two games to spare,” the Inter head coach said. 

“But we have played two games of great application against Barcelona. In my opinion, they are a very, very strong team.”

While Inter ultimately settled for sharing the spoils in a thrilling 3-3 draw, the stalemate proved a marked improvement as it ended a five-game losing streak at Barcelona in the Champions League.

With just one win needed against either Viktoria Plzen or Bayern Munich, who have already progressed, Inzaghi aims to deliver qualification for the second season in a row to appease the Nerazzurri faithful.

Asked whether the result at Barca could prove a turning point for Inter’s somewhat underwhelming season thus far, Inzaghi responded: “Maybe, but as I said before we miss the last step.

“We have to give the qualification to our fans as we did last year after eleven years, it would be the second year in a row. We missed the last step.”

Inter caught Barca cold with three second-half goals, the Blaugrana conceding three or more times in a single half of Champions League football for just the fourth time in their history.

Inzaghi acknowledged his plan was to attack by starting with Edin Dzeko and Martinez, while he suggested another strong performance against a European heavyweight will help his side to improve.

“Yes, we played it openly, I thought about whether to play the two forwards because they have been playing for the last three games,” Inzaghi added.

“Instead, Dzeko and Lautaro were very good together and played a very good match against an opponent that we have managed to limit.

“We have faced Real Madrid and Liverpool. Now we have faced Barcelona twice in two very good matches, which have put us in a very good position. Now it is up to us to grow.”