The first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final between Inter Milan and Como concluded in a tense goalless draw at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia. Inter’s coach, Christian Chivu, expressed dissatisfaction with his team’s lackluster performance amidst an escalating injury crisis. In contrast, Como’s manager, Cesc Fabregas, praised his side’s tactical discipline, believing they deserved to head into the second leg with a lead.
Following the game, Chivu described the match as far from ideal for Inter, lamenting a disjointed display that saw his team fail to register a single shot on target. “Every match, we have emergencies, and I had to make changes. For the first time, I placed two attacking midfielders behind the striker,” explained Chivu. “But it wasn’t an Inter match, nor was it pretty to watch.”
Como’s Fabregas was quick to counter Chivu’s frustration, insisting his side executed their game plan effectively. “It was a chess match,” Fabregas remarked, noting that while they could have scored, his players’ compactness frustrated the Serie A leaders. “We played against the most dominant team in Serie A and created three opportunities while they had one shot,” he added, suggesting that his side was close to a memorable victory.
Looking forward to the second leg scheduled for April 22 at San Siro, Fabregas recognized the different mentality between the two clubs but expressed pride in his squad’s achievements. “We have earned the right to compete at this level; two years ago, no one would have believed it.”
Inter’s challenges were compounded by the absence of key player Lautaro Martinez, who is sidelined due to an injury sustained in a previous Champions League match. Chivu acknowledged that this lack of clinical ability proved detrimental during the match against Como.
Additionally, the encounter was marred by a hostile atmosphere directed at Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni, who faced jeers from the crowd following a controversial incident in a prior match. Fabregas defended Bastoni, emphasizing the pressures of playing for a top team: “Such reactions happen because he plays for the strongest team in Italy. He’s a top player and will learn from this experience.”
The first leg leaves both sides with much to ponder as they prepare for the return fixture. Inter must address their injury issues and rectify their performance, while Como aims to build on their tactical success and capitalize on the momentum they’ve generated. As the semi-final unfolds, the stakes couldn’t be higher for both teams.
