Bastoni: Inter must return to reality in UEFA Champions League

Alessandro Bastoni, the Inter Milan defender, has stressed the importance of achieving a positive result against Shakhtar Donetsk in the upcoming UEFA Champions League match, noting that the team needs to correct its course in the competition. He warned that losing more points will make the task of finishing the league phase in the top eight positions even more difficult.

Bastoni said during the press conference: "Tomorrow we are obliged to get a result, otherwise reaching the top eight will become very difficult. We have to look at reality, it has been a long time since we reached the finals. The UEFA Champions League is a dream for us, but what happened in the tournament should bring us back to reality."

Inter defender discussed the reasons behind the decline in European results, emphasizing that individual errors and the mental aspect are the main issues the team is facing. He explained: "We need a great deal of honesty and personal responsibility. I don't think the problem is tactical or technical, but primarily mental, as we make simple mistakes that give opponents chances to score."

Bastoni has stated that the difference between Inter's performance in Serie A and the UEFA Champions League is not significant, emphasizing that the team relies on the same style in both competitions. However, he noted that they need to reduce mistakes, especially since the quality of attackers in the European competition makes it more difficult to compensate for conceded goals.

He praised the potential of Shakhtar Donetsk, confirming that the Ukrainian team has Brazilian players with high technical quality.

Speaking about the difficult period he experienced, Bastoni explained that Inter's management and coach stood by him, noting that he did not lose confidence in himself and feels the responsibility to prove his abilities in every match.

He also confirmed his readiness to perform different tactical roles on the pitch, explaining that playing as a full-back in a three-man defense is not a problem for him, given his familiarity with moving in these spaces during matches.