BERGAMO – "We were never going to win every game..." Andrea Stramaccioni said with a wry smile after Atalanta v Inter. "We were a little careless at the back at times but Inter always looked dangerous and we played at a high tempo. This defeat won't douse our enthusiasm, we'll push on with our heads held high."
The Nerazzurri coach continued his analysis of his side's first away defeat of the season: "We paid for the start to the game and Atalanta scoring from Bonaventura's run, which we read too late. Then Consigli did well to keep them in front. There was also that great chance for Denis but Inter were playing well. Unfortunately Atalanta got their second when we were having our best spell. It's a shame: if we hadn't conceded the third we might have drawn it, we were doing well. Credit to Atalanta though."Stramaccioni was asked to comment on the refereeing, starting with the penalty awarded to Atalanta: "The ref gave a penalty, he was right next to it and that's how he saw it... I didn't comment in Turin so I'm certainly not going to now. In any case I knew what we were in for - I'd said this was going to be an extremely tough game. Atalanta deserve the plaudits but my Inter team didn't deserve to lose. We respect the result of the pitch but I thought Inter were excellent. We displayed strength and determination to play football and score goals. There was a lapse or two on their first two goals - that can happen. As I said, I don't think Inter struggled against Atalanta, we were always in it and with a little luck it would have ended differently. Individual mistakes? I only saw team mistakes. My starting line-up? I preferred to go with three midfielders rather than three defenders. We were a bit short today but we mustn't use that as an excuse."
