Goal.com

11-Mar-2013 4:30:00 AM

The Nerazzurri head coach defended his team after Sunday night's 1-0 defeat at San Siro to Bologna, and says the side are "angry and sad" with second loss in three days

Andrea Stramaccioni has claimed it would be unforgivable if Inter were to throw away their chances of a top-three finish on the back of a home defeat to Bologna on Sunday night.

Alberto Gilardino’s second-half goal gave the visitors a 1-0 victory at San Siro to condemn the Nerazzurri to their second loss in three days following Thursday’s 3-0 humiliation at Tottenham.

Stramaccioni told reporters after the match: “All of Inter were absent in the first half, then we attacked more after the break knowing we would run a few risks.

“I make mistakes, just as everyone does. I thank the president for his faith in me, but I’d like to thank him with results.

"This is a difficult moment and it’s important for us to get back some of our players. I see many sides tripping up and I think the Champions League spots are still within reach.

“We have lost an opportunity tonight, but there are 10 games to go and we should reserve judgment to the end of the season. It would be an unforgivable error to throw in the towel now.

“Of course we are angry and sad at the situation and at ourselves, but there is time to make up for it.”

Stramaccioni refused to be downbeat about the club’s chances of Champions League qualification despite their poor run of form recently.

“There are still 10 rounds to go, we are at the moment unable to do what we want to, especially in the first half,” he added.

“We came out for the second half fortunate not to be behind. Paradoxically, we did better after the break and that was when Bologna scored. It was a heavy blow.

“We reacted and went close to an equaliser, but the result is what counts. It is not a positive time for us, but I see other teams who have had problems.

"It is a very balanced league and, apart from Juventus, every team can cause each other problems.

“We lost Ricky Alvarez to injury, but other than him it was the same side that did so well at Catania, scoring three goals. In the first half we didn’t achieve anything that we were trying to do.”

Inter host Spurs in a Europa League last-16 second leg at San Siro on Thursday night, and Stramaccioni hinted that a weakened side would be fielded even though they need to perform quite the comeback to make it into the quarter-finals.

“I had 12 players available against Tottenham, as five are cup-tied and others are injured,” the coach continued.

“I will again have to make some difficult decisions. We want to honour the game, but my decisions will above all have to be based on fitness levels.”