MILAN - Stefano Pioli insisted Inter must take the positives after they ended their Europa League campaign with a 2-1 defeat of Sparta Prague on Thursday.
“We're sorry to go out of the competition," the coach told Sky Sport Italia after the final whistle. "We prepared really well for our game against Be'er Sheva and got off to a great start but made the mistake of thinking it lasted 45 minutes. In any case they deserve their place in the next round – they could have been playing in the Champions League group stage.
"I always try to see the bright side of everything and with no Europa League commitments we'll be able to spend the week preparing for our Serie A matches."
On the match itself, won thanks to a brace by Eder, Pioli added: "It wasn't an experimental side because regardless of our personnel we produced a good, careful performance.
"We're looking for ways to improve and find better balance. We've been working on various options on the training ground and then I pick what I believe are the best tactics for each match.
“The players are learning because they're working very well during the week and for long periods of the game we're able to put it into practice. Unfortunately it only takes one thing to go wrong during the match and we start to struggle with our movement and our positioning. Suddenly everything becomes more difficult."
The boss then commented on Andrea Pinamonti, who impressed on his first-team debut by setting up Eder for the opening goal, and the upcoming transfer window.
"Pinamonti is very young but he's top-quality. He's got his head screwed on properly too. I think he's destined for great things.
"Yes, perhaps 29 players are too many. The club will do what's best for the team and for the individual players.
"Barbosa? There's far too much talk about who's not playing and why. It's the coach's job to pick the players who are best suited.”
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