Inter head coach Simone Inzaghi offered unwavering support for forward Marko Arnautovic following Inter’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Young Boys in the UEFA Champions League. Despite dominating the game with an impressive 3.27 expected goals compared to Young Boys' 0.92, Inter faced difficulty converting their chances. Arnautovic, who stepped up for a crucial penalty in the second half, had his shot saved by Young Boys’ goalkeeper David von Ballmoos, marking Inter’s first missed penalty in a competitive match since October 2019.
The missed opportunity was a key moment in the game, as von Ballmoos not only saved Arnautovic’s initial penalty but also stopped the follow-up attempt. It was Arnautovic’s first-ever penalty in the Champions League, and the pressure was high. However, despite the setback, Inter persisted and found a breakthrough deep into stoppage time, with Marcus Thuram scoring the game-winning goal in the 93rd minute.
After the match, Inzaghi expressed his full backing for Arnautovic, downplaying the missed penalty. "Penalties are only missed by those who have the courage to take them," said Inzaghi, adding that Arnautovic remains an important part of the team. Inzaghi also explained Inter's penalty-taking hierarchy, noting that Hakan Calhanoglu is the first-choice taker, followed by Mehdi Taremi and Arnautovic. He pointed out that Taremi had taken a penalty for Red Star earlier in the competition when Arnautovic was unavailable, but emphasized his confidence in the Austrian striker’s abilities moving forward.
Inzaghi acknowledged that playing away to Young Boys was always going to be a challenge, especially considering their physicality and improved form under interim coach Joel Magnin. Young Boys, though struggling in both domestic and European competitions, were able to make life difficult for Inter throughout the match. Magnin’s side remains second-bottom in their Champions League group and 10th in the Swiss Super League, with only two wins in ten matches.
Inzaghi also praised the performance of Young Boys' goalkeeper David von Ballmoos, highlighting his crucial role in keeping his side in the game. The Swiss shot-stopper had also delivered a standout performance in Young Boys' previous domestic match against Lucerne, making him a key player for the team in recent weeks.
Despite the missed penalty and the challenges posed by their Swiss opponents, Inzaghi remained positive about his side’s performance and determination to secure the win. The late goal by Marcus Thuram helped Inter solidify their position in the Champions League standings, and Inzaghi's faith in his squad, particularly Arnautovic, underscored his belief in their ability to keep pushing forward in the competition.
