MILAN – "It's not easy to comment on a game like that because we lost 3-1 even though - as Petkovic admitted after the final whistle - we deserved to get a result tonight. It's a pity. Things happened that you rarely ever see. We lost Jonathan to an injury you couldn't have imagined, Onazi scored an extraordinary goal, Alvarez missed from the spot..." That was how Andrea Stramaccioni began his post-match analysis following Inter's defeat to Lazio
The coach continued: "The positive aspect was the way the team played. The lads busted a gut with Benassi and Pasa, two 19-year-olds, playing in defence. The fans understood that we gave it everything and so they applauded the players. In terms of the quality of our football, this was a step forward. We saw that against Napoli and again today.
"Signings? That's for the club to worry about. We're wearing this shirt and everyone who wears this shirt gives everything on the pitch. The people who work closely with Inter know what sort of a situation we've been in for the last three months. We need to finish the season well and the club is already at work. There are lots of positives to take from this season and we need to start with those. We must keep giving our all until Inter v Udinese and keep playing like we are, sooner or later things have got to turn.
"Alvarez had a very good game. It's happened to the best players to slip at the penalty spot. Ricardo told me his standing foot slipped.
"Handanovic at fault? I don't want to talk about that. He's one of the best keepers in Europe and a guarantee for us, both now and for the future. He may have got his timing wrong but even so the ball then bounced off three players and ended up in the net."
Stramaccioni was then asked to comment on the questions asked by the fans in the Curva during the game. "Their 12th question? [Why do people always speak well of Moratti when they leave but not the club?] I really don't have the answer to that. I'm smiling now because I hope I don't have to answer it myself - it would mean they've got rid of me too... I don't have anything particular to say to our fans. Their protests and civilised criticism are legitimate. Supporters have every right to show their disapproval. And they cheered us on for 90 minutes. You lose 3-1 and then get applauded by the San Siro faithful - they deserve a monument. You can't imagine how desperate we are to repay them. We're so angry inside.
"Was the protest against the president excessive? No, I honestly didn't realise it was meant specifically for him. He puts his heart and soul into everything. He feels the pain and the joy as much as anyone. I think Inter's fans - the biggest number of season ticket holders in the whole of Italy - are entitled to express their views."
