Simone Inzaghi conceded runaway Serie A leaders Napoli leaders are out of reach for Inter after expressing disappointment at a disappointing performance at Sampdoria.
Inter Napoli continued their form with 15 points at the summit of Italy’s top flight after being held to a goalless draw by strugglers Sampdoria on Monday at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium.
The Nerazzurri attempted 25 shots in a one-sided contest, the first time Inter have recorded as many goalless shots in a Serie A game since February 2022 (29 at home to Sassuolo).
Inzaghi’s side had failed to score in two of their previous four Serie A games, as often as they had in their previous 31 games in the competition, and the Inter coach admitted his side’s shortcomings.
“It’s normal to be disappointed, we wanted another result – we underestimated the game,” he told DAZN. “We had a good first half, minus the second.
“A lot of chances were created against a team that gave everything on the pitch. We had to make the most of them.
“We regret it because the boys played the game the right way, playing it as we had prepared for it. We had to be calmer and take better advantage of the opportunities.”
When asked if Luciano Spalletti’s Napoli were elusive, Inzaghi replied: “Of course, but we have to look at our progress alone.
“We came from three wins in a row and tonight we wanted to achieve a different result. There is a lot of bitterness as it should be.”
Lautaro Martinez wasted a glorious last-minute chance after a scramble inside the area, as second-bottom Sampdoria waited for a vital point.
The Argentina international made six shots without finding the net, his most efforts in a goalless Serie A game since facing Sampdoria on May 22 last year.
But Inzaghi was unhappy with what he saw from his strikers Martinez and Romelu Lukaku before a late cameo from veteran Edin Dzeko.
“Lukaku is working more and more every day, he needs playing time,” he said. “Lautaro and Dzeko are doing great things.
“Tonight [Lukaku] He kept the ball well, he could have scored with a dirtier shot then he dropped a bit in the second half.”
Lukaku and Nicolo Barella could be seen arguing in the first half, with the striker pointing the finger at the Italy international following a disagreement.
“They had this squabble in front of my bench, these are things I don’t like but we talked about it at the end of the first half and it was all resolved already,” continued Inzaghi.
“But it certainly shouldn’t happen again because it’s not a nice sight. They’re things on the pitch, they probably wouldn’t be talked about even with a win.”