Simone Inzaghi ‘not disappointed’ with Inter Milan performance in Monza defeat

After a jaw-dropping 28-game unbeaten run against newly-promoted sides, Inter Milan suffered a disheartening 1-0 home loss to Serie A debutants Monza.

Luca Caldirola’s late winner condemned the Nerazzurri to a single point in their last five league outings, intensifying pressure on under-fire manager Simone Inzaghi. 

In addition to wasting a glorious opportunity to displace arch-rivals AC Milan in the top four, Inzaghi’s men have lost a third consecutive home game in Serie A for only the fourth time in history. 

Devastated supporters are desperate to see the 47-year-old relieved of his duties, with their side at risk of missing out on Champions League qualification for the first time since 2016/17.

However, Inter’s 2-0 win at Benfica in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie seems to have thrown the Italian’s stuttering managerial career at the San Siro a lifeline. 

Last season’s Serie A runners-up attempted 25 shots without scoring, but the former Lazio head coach insists he is only disappointed with the result but ‘not the team’s performance.’ 

“The team did well in the first half and deserved to go into the break in front,” he told the club’s website after the game.

“In the second half, we became tense and lost our shape, conceding too many counter-attacks.

“It’s a photocopy of the matches against Fiorentina and Salernitana. Our form in the league isn’t acceptable.

“We knew the importance of tonight’s match, and the result slows down our progress.

“We’re not lacking motivation in the league. I’m disappointed with the result but not by the team’s performance. We’re creating so much but not finding the net.”

Despite Inter’s top-four predicament in Serie A and the team’s woeful run of form, the Nerazzurri chiefs seem willing to stick with Inzaghi, at least until the completion of their Champions League campaign. 

With ex-Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte currently unemployed, the Italians may reach out to the manager that halted their decade-long Scudetto wait two years ago.

But it will likely have to wait until the summer.