Ranieri bemoans timid first-half display: “We have to keep fighting”

After his side took to the field once again following a lengthy break from competitive action, Claudio Ranieri admitted that the performance against Inter was lacking, especially at the start of Sunday’s contest.

“We were timid, fearful,” he said. “That’s how we started out: we couldn’t get out and when we did, we made mistakes. But in the second half we showed character. I can accept the defeat and our second-half display, but not the first half.”

As for the change in the second half, the coach added: “I invited my players to push forward, to try and create problems for them, but it wasn’t enough.”

Meanwhile on his discussions with the referee, regarding what appeared a potential penalty claim involving Kristoffer Askildsen, Ranieri explained: “Having looked back at the scramble, I can say there was nothing to it.”

“We’ve been brave in training and I expected a match like this,” the coach continued. “But we were timid for the whole first half. We dropped back and they brought the ball forward. That’s not good enough.”

Samp missed an opportunity to create daylight between themselves and the relegation zone but will get another chance on Wednesday at Roma. “We started from last place, so it’s not that we’re worried – we know where we started and we have to fight to the end,” Ranieri says. “It doesn’t matter who we play against, every game is an opportunity.”