Inter Milan manager, Luciano Spalletti, has vetoed claims that his side performed poorly in their surprise 2:0 loss to Genoa on Saturday.

An own-goal by Andrea Ranocchia and a second-half strike by former Nerrazzuri Goran Pandev sealed the emphatic victory for Genoa at home to Inter Milan in Matchday 25 of the Serie A. The loss has pushed the Milan club to fourth position and may subsequently see them lose their Champions League spot with fifth-placed Lazio yet to play this week.

The Bianceleste will feature at home to lowly-placed Hellas Verona on Monday night. Regardless of the imminent change in Inter’s status on the league log, Spalleti believes his side’s performance was not generally bad. 

“The team did not have a bad performance. We have to be able to grow from time to time because it is difficult to maintain a clear direction,” Spalleti stated in an interview with Sport Mediaset.

“It is not easy when you take an own goal at the very end of the first half.

“In the second half we played a balanced match and we deserved more, even if they deliberately time wasted,” the manager added.

“I remember important saves from Perin and not Handanovic. We have to go back to working seriously, believing in the potential of the team. 

“There are still many games to put things right and fight until the end to qualify for the Champions League.”

Inter has drawn three times and has won just once in their last five Serie A games. They will host bottom-placed Benevento at home in their next game.