Italy and Juventus icon Alessandro Del Piero has pinpointed what he considers to be Inter’s primary regret following their eventual defeat on penalties to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League round of 16.
Del Piero, a six-time Serie A champion, assumed the role of a pitchside reporter during CBS’s coverage of the Champions League on Wednesday night, joining regular analysts Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher, and Micah Richards, alongside host Kate Abdo.
Del Piero opined that Inter took too long to assert their footballing prowess against Atletico, indicating that Simone Inzaghi’s team failed to find their rhythm until the second period of extra time.
He further observed that Inter’s offensive strategy seemed limited to counterattacks and suggested that they could have exhibited better control and creativity in possession throughout the match.
“The primary lament for Inter this evening is their delayed initiation of cohesive football; it wasn’t until the latter half of extra time that they truly found their stride.
“Given their possession, Inter could have performed more effectively during regular play, as their attacking opportunities predominantly arose from counterattacks. Thus, when in possession, Inter could have certainly exhibited greater proficiency.”
Despite the aggregate score being level at 2-2 after extra time, Inter succumbed in the penalty shootout, with Alexis Sanchez, Davy Klaassen, and Lautaro Martinez failing to convert their spot-kicks.
“In the context of penalty shootouts, success can be influenced by factors such as luck, preparation, exceptional goalkeeping, or defensive interventions,” Del Piero concluded.