Inter coach Christian Kivou appeared in a press statement following the loss to Bologna on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the Italian Super Cup semi-final.

The coach said after the match: "For me, penalty shootouts are like a lottery. I admire the courage of those who raise their hand and step forward to take the shot. You can't train for that because the emotions of the moment in the match cannot be replicated."

He added: "I believe my team delivered an excellent performance, especially in the second half. There was quality and intensity, which are exactly what I always want to see from my players."

The match witnessed a controversial moment when a penalty was awarded to Inter, only for the referee to overturn it after consulting the video assistant referee (VAR). It was determined that Ange-Yoan Bonny had extended his leg to make contact with Torbjørn Heggem, not the other way around.

Keffo commented, saying: "I'm not talking about the referees or their decisions. They have VAR and can review all the footage."

He continued: "I prefer to talk about my team, about what we can improve and what we need to learn; this is the coach's job. Through good times and bad, we move forward with our heads held high. Everyone can make mistakes, so I don't blame anyone or complain. We keep working."

He emphasized: "Right after our goal, those were our toughest moments because they pressed hard, and we had difficulty moving the ball forward. The forwards tried to hold onto the ball, but there wasn’t enough support."

He added: "We improved a lot in the second half, controlled the game, pushed them into their half, and created scoring opportunities. But that's football; if you don't take your chances, it goes to penalties, and from there, it becomes a matter of luck."

Regarding whether Lautaro's absence as a substitute was to keep him ready for Monday's final, Kewell said: "I don't dare assume we would reach the final; I only noticed that this was the eighth match in three weeks, and he played in all of them. We also have many important matches coming up in January. We can't afford to lose players due to avoidable injuries, and this also applies to Manuel Akanji and Hakan Çalhanoğlu."

He explained: "The number of matches is large, and this is not a complaint but a fact. The team has shown for months that no matter which player participates, they are capable of meeting the demands of any tournament."

Goalkeeper Josep Martinez concluded his first appearance since his tragic car accident on October 28: "I have 25 players who all deserve to play. They are all champions, and I must give them the chance to make an impact and help the team. We are an ambitious team, the season is long, and we need everyone."