Claudio Ranieri: “This match is a picture of our season”

Inter Milan coach Claudio Ranieri claims luck has deserted his side this season, with Tuesday's European exit adding to their woes. Ranieri feels the outcome could have been different had fortune favoured his team, with it his opinion that they were the better side over the course of the two games. The Serie A giants crashed out of the UEFA Champions League in midweek despite picking up a 2-1 victory over last-16 rivals Marseille.

He is, however, facing up to the fact that Inter have seen their continental dreams crushed and must now focus their attention on finding form in Serie A, allowing them to close the six-point gap which separates them from the top four. A 1-0 defeat in the first leg of that encounter ended up costing Inter dear, with Brandao's late strike seeing them eliminated on away goals. 

"This match is a picture of our season, we played better than Marseille and even tonight we had the clearer chances," said Ranieri. "Over 180 minutes Marseille had three shots on goal but in football the team who wins is the one that scores, so well done to them. "We were unjustly condemned, but that's the beauty and the beast of football and you have to accept it." "This year we haven't had any luck, I can't ask the team for more. "We could have done more with that touch more luck that really seems to not want to arrive.