Inzaghi: "Disappointing to draw after that second - half display"

MILAN – Simone Inzaghi couldn't hide his disappointment after Inter dropped two points at home to Atalanta following a late penalty miss.

Having taken the lead thanks to a brilliant Lautaro Martinez volley and seen Atalanta score twice before the break, the Nerazzurri levelled through Edin Dzeko in the second half and went looking for the win. However, Federico Dimarco's 86th-minute spot kick came off the crossbar as the spoils were eventually shared.

“It was a thrilling game but we're gutted about the result,” Inzaghi began. “Considering the chances we had in the second half I think we deserved more. That's taking nothing away from Atalanta – they're a great team and played really well. 

“We lost our way in the last few minutes after the missed penalty but I think we were excellent for long spells, particularly in the opening 20 minutes and in the second half. It was a top performance against a very good side.

“The lads have to keep training the way they have been. As a coach, it's a joy to see your substitutes coming on and making a big contribution to the game. After our first three changes, we pushed the team higher and played some really good stuff in the second half. 

“[Matias] Vecino did brilliantly and so did [Denzel] Dumfries and [Alexis] Sanchez, as well as Dimarco. 

“I'm not forgetting the likes of [Danilo] D'Abrosio and [Roberto] Gagliardini either: they're very important for us. They had a few problems at the end of pre-season but we're going to need them like everyone else playing every three days at this sort of tempo.”

On the penalty: “I decided Dimarco was going to be our penalty-taker. He practised this morning, along with [Hakan] Calhanoglu, Lautaro and [Ivan] Perisic. I thought Federico looked fresher than Ivan. It's a shame because he's made a superb start to the season and he deserved to score the winner at home, in front of our Curva. 

“It's disappointing to draw but I was happy to see the lads giving their all to the very end."

Finally, the boss had words of praise for Nicolo Barella, who produced a fifth assist in six appearances this season for Lautaro's opener.

“Nicolo has been playing at this level for a few years now. He's a champion of Italy and of Europe so I haven't been surprised by him. He's a modern midfielder and there's no reason why he can't continue like this. He just needs to keep on working away with the others trying to improve constantly.”