COACH SPALLETTI ON THE MATCH AGAINST BARCELLONA
Luciano Spalletti commended the team’s performance after their 1-1 draw at Barcelona but was disappointed to see the penalty awarded that drew the Catalan side level.
“We matched Barcelona and we can qualify in the return leg,” the coach declared after the Azzurri withstood late pressure from the hosts to leave Camp Nou unbeaten.
“I can honestly say that Barca deserved the draw, but that was not a penalty. Juan Jesus did not alter the trajectory of the cross. To be honest, his hands were behind him and he was just in a normal running position.
“I’m sorry because this was never a penalty, but in the same spirit of honesty, a draw was the right result.
“I was pleased with the team for good chunks of the game, but we sat back too much and that's the kind of mistake we mustn’t make. So that was disappointing.
“We still need to mature in certain respects. I’m definitely really pleased with the performance and now we can put things back in our favour in the return leg. We have belief and know that we have a chance.”
(Photo LaPresse)
