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AC Milan manager Stefano Pioli backs his side to overturn 2-0 loss to rivals Inter Milan

AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli believes his team can beat Inter Milan in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final tie.

The Rossoneri lost 2-0 to their Milan rivals after a miserable performance at the San Siro tonight.

Inter came out of the blocks more aggressively, and Edin Dzeko turned in a corner from Hakan Calhanoglu to break the deadlock.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who won the Man of the Match award, doubled the lead a few minutes later.

Inter could have had more as Calhanoglu hit the woodwork. Inter kept their rivals at bay, and Pioli’s side did not manage a shot on target until the second half.

However, the Italian manager is confident his side can overturn the deficit in the second leg.

Pioli told BT Sport (via Football Italia): “Inter played better in the first half and scored two goals. Milan played better in the second half and did not score.

“This is football at this level. Inter had more quality and were more efficient in the first half, while we made too many mistakes for this level.


“Until the seventh minute, Inter had never even stepped into our penalty area, then scored at the first corner. Clearly, we should’ve been more concentrated.

“We wanted a different result, but we must keep believing because an incident can change everything in the second leg.”

Plenty went wrong for Milan today. Star attacker Rafael Leao missed the game through injury.

After Inter went 2-0 up, Ismael Bennacer picked up a knock and had to go off. Injuries have become a running theme for Milan this season.

However, Milan managed to avoid a blowout and are still in the tie.

They could have Leao fit for the second leg and will take some confidence from their second-half performance into next week.

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