Atletico Madrid striker Alvaro Morata argues Inter Milan made a mistake by leaving his side alive after the first leg.
The two clubs clashed heads in the Champions League Round of 16.
The Nerazzurri had a flurry of chances in the first leg but only managed to score a single goal courtesy of Marko Arnautovic.
This slim victory wasn’t enough for the Serie A giants who failed to maintain their lead on aggregate.
The Spaniards managed to equalize the scoring in the final minutes of the second leg, thus taking the tie to extra time. They eventually prevailed after dramatic shootouts.
Therefore, Morata notes that the first leg’s result was key to securing qualification in the return fixture.
“We had been preparing the second leg for weeks,” revealed the former Juventus striker in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport via FcInterNews.
“Simeone showed us many videos with the many good things that Inter, a team, can do. Everyone considered them a candidate for the final.
“They could have gone all the way to win the competition. Unless a catastrophe occurs, they will win Serie A this season.
“In the first leg, they left us alive, and in the return fixture, we played a great match. And even so, we went to penalties, which remain a lottery.”
Atletico Madrid Coach Alvaro Morata Has Lavish Praise For Inter Milan Coach Simone Inzaghi
On another note, Morata discussed the events from last summer where he was linked with a host of Serie A clubs, including Inter, Milan and Roma.
“I was in a particular situation, with my contract at Atletico Madrid expiring. I renewed it by significantly changing the economic conditions due to Financial Fairplay issues and the club’s wage bill.
“They contacted me from Milan, then the coaches called me, because I have good relationships with everyone.
“Allegri already coached me in the past. The same goes for Mourinho, who gave me my debut at Real Madrid.
“I liked the idea of joining Roma and linking up with Dybala. and in a club and in a passionate city that experiences football like South America.
“Simone Inzaghi and I have known each other for years. We even met during a holiday.
“He is a great coach and an incredible person. Spending time with him is a pleasure. He is someone who transmits a lot of positive energy.”
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