Inter out to bounce back against Pisa
Inter will move on swiftly from its Champions League defeat to Arsenal ahead of facing Pisa in Serie A on Saturday, striker Marcus Thuram said.
The Nerazzurri were beaten 3-1 by Mikel Arteta's Gunners at San Siro, being outclassed after Petar Sucic's pile-driver briefly got them level in the first half.
That result represented a huge blow to Inter's hopes of finishing in the top eight and advancing straight to the last 16, with an away win over Borussia Dortmund next week – as well as a few favours from elsewhere – now required.
Back on the domestic front, Inter lead the way in the Scudetto race, sitting three points clear of Napoli at the summit.
Given it plays before its rival this weekend, Cristian Chivu's side has a chance to – at least temporarily – extend its advantage at the top.
Though acknowledging the loss was a setback, Thuram says Inter's focus was single-minded, saying: "For now, we're focusing on Friday, and then Dortmund will be like a final.
"When you play for Inter, the least you can do is try to go as far as possible in every competition."
Reflecting on the Arsenal loss, Chivu said his team must continue to develop before it can compete with the Premier League's best on a consistent basis.
"The level of technique they showed impressed me compared to other teams – the decision is always the right one, and they have the speed to find a team-mate making a run with a single touch," he said.
"We stayed in the game, and when we won some duels, we created chances. But it down to Arsenal's individual and collective quality. I won't talk about how much they've spent.
"Otherwise I'd sound banal, and I'm not complaining.
"The Premier League is a top league in terms of intensity; we're not yet used to this type of match. I try to pass on a bit more in terms of certain plays to execute on the pitch. But it's not easy.
"We're trying to continue our growth step by step. It's important to maintain the belief that what we’re doing is the right thing."
