Inter Milan Coach Rues Missed Opportunity To Extend Serie A Table Lead Vs Napoli: ‘In Head-To-Head Matches You Have To Be Perfect’ | OneFootball

Simone Inzaghi feels that against Napoli, Inter Milan “had to be perfect” as they threw away a lead to draw 1-1.

The Nerazzurri coach spoke to Italian broadcaster DAZN, via FCInterNews, after the match. He lamented his team’s failure to extend their lead at the top of the Serie A table.

Inter Milan came close to extending their lead at the top of the Serie A table to four points this evening.

Heading into the final minutes of their Serie A match away to Napoli, the Nerazzurri were 1-0 up. That came courtesy of a brilliant first half free kick by Federico Dimarco.

After that, and particularly in the second half, Inter were really holding on and defending their advantage.

By and large, the Nerazzurri’s defending of their penalty was close to flawless.

However, late on in the match, Napoli substitute Phillip Billing managed to score to grab a point for the Partenopei that could play a huge role in the title race.

Inter had to give everything in today’s match. And evidently the fatigue began to tell.

Inzaghi On Napoli 1-1 Inter Milan Draw: “You Have To Be Perfect In Head-To-Head Matches”

After the match, Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi admitted that “In head-to-head matches you have to be perfect.”

“And we weren’t,” continued the Nerazzurri coach.

MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: Simone Inzaghi, Head Coach of FC Internazionale, looks on prior to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Genoa at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on February 22, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“On the goal, we shouldn’t have allowed Lobotka to get into the area. The rest of it was a consequence of that.”

Meanwhile, Inzaghi also said that “I’m still waiting to watch the incident back where McTominay fouls Dumfries.”

Inter had appealed for a penalty right before Dimarco scored from a free kick. This came after former Manchester United Scott McTominay appeared to shove Denzel Dumfries in the back inside the penalty area.”

Inter coach Inzaghi continued that “Clearly this match was tough.”

“The first half was balanced. We did well.”

“Then in the second half we had some problems,” continued the Inter coach.

Inzaghi noted that “Napoli grew into it a lot.”

“We should have stepped up a bit more. But we have to remember that we were up against an opponent who were fresher than us, and who caused us problems.”

“Of course, we made it all the way to the 87th minute,” Inzaghi noted. “And we had to do more to try and score.”

“We had to sub Dimarco off. We put Pavard on the right.”

Inzaghi then said that “I have exceptional guys here, they gave everything considering that we also played on Tuesday.”

Meanwhile, the Inter coach stressed the competitive title race in Serie A. “Clearly Napoli, Atalanta, and Juventus are all in great form,” he said. “And then we’re going forwards as well.”

First 4-4-2 After Federico Dimarco Off, Then 3-5-2

In the second half, Inter lost Federico Dimarco to injury.

The Italian international was just about the last player who Inzaghi would have wanted to see come off, considering there were already three other injuries at wingback.

And the Inter coach explained the tactical switch. “Initially, Dumfries was supposed to stay where he was,” he said.

“And then we’d play more a 4-4-2, with him moving out to Spinazzola.”

“But then we saw that Napoli were keeping the width,” Inzaghi noted. “And we preferred to keep our formation as well, and finish the match with Dumfries on the left.”

“I was thinking about going 4-4-2,” the Nerazzurro coach said. “But we needed to keep the width covered, so we had to adapt with Pavard and Dumfries playing as wingbacks.”