Inzaghi content with draw against City but regrets missed chances

Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi lamented missed opportunities but was satisfied with his team’s draw against Manchester City in their opening Champions League match of the season. While the 0-0 stalemate at the Etihad Stadium was a positive start for Inter in the revamped competition, Inzaghi felt his team could have secured victory.
“The players did really well, we knew the quality of our opponents, but we worked well and could have hurt them more in some situations,” Inzaghi said. “In the final third we need to show skill and technique, which we do have in the squad. Against these sides like Manchester City and Real Madrid, you always seem like you might be able to score a goal, but then they manage to rescue it.”
Midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu said Inter were determined not to be intimidated by City who beat them in the 2023 Champions League final. “We wanted to show that we are not scared to play here. We play football the way they do, with sacrifice we showed that we can also play football,” Calhanoglu said. “We enjoyed ourselves against a very strong team and could also have won, but with the right courage and spirit of sacrifice, we proved that we can compete against anyone.”
Inter will now turn their focus to the Derby della Madonnina against AC Milan at home on Sunday. “It will be a derby, we all know what that means for the club and our fans. They never stopped singing tonight in Manchester. We will stay here overnight, fly back tomorrow and try to prepare the match in just a few days,” Inzaghi said.

Proud Rodgers hails Celtic’s hunger after dominant win over Slovan
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers credited his side’s intensity, hunger and greed after the Scottish champions beat Slovan Bratislava 5-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday. The four-goal home win was Celtic’s biggest in the main stages of the Champions League, although the club had bigger victories in the European Cup, including a 9-0 win over Finnish side KPV in 1970. “To get that scoreline at this level is a massive testament to the players and their mentality,” Rodgers said. “Just the intensity and the hunger and the greed of the team, and then the quality for the goals was absolutely superb, so it was a great night for everyone.”
The former Liverpool and Leicester City manager said his men were excellent in every aspect of the game. “The supporters really pushed the team and I am so proud for everyone,” he added. Celtic, who have won all five of their Scottish Premiership matches this season, next face Falkirk in the quarter-finals of the Scottish League Cup on Sunday.

Dinamo Zagreb part ways with coach Jakirovic after 9-2 Bayern defeat
Dinamo Zagreb manager Sergej Jakirovic left the club by mutual agreement, two days after his shell-shocked side’s 9-2 defeat at Bayern Munich which set the record for the most goals scored by one team in a Champions League match.
Bayern’s Harry Kane netted four times, becoming the highest-scoring English player in European Cup history, with Bruno Petkovic and Takuya Ogiwara’s goals a minor consolation for the Croats in their demolition at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday. The 47-year-old Bosnian Jakirovic, who previously coached HNK Rijeka, was appointed head coach at Dinamo in February 2023.
He led Dinamo to their 25th league title and the Croatian Cup last season. Sandro Perkovic, a member of Jakirovic’s coaching staff, has been appointed caretaker manager. Dinamo are third in the domestic league standings with 13 points and visit Slaven Belupo on Saturday. They welcome AS Monaco in their next Champions League game on October 2.