Inter down but certainly not out, says Mancini

Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini insisted his side still had a chance of making the last four of the Champions League despite their 2-0 quarter-final, first-leg defeat by city rivals AC Milan on Wednesday. Goals in each half from Dutch defender Jaap Stam and European Footballer of the Year Andriy Shevchenko gave Milan a victory which leaves them as firm favourites to go through to the semi-finals.

Mancini said, however, that Inter should not be written off. “We are not resigned to our fate, there are still 90 minutes left to play and in the first half tonight we were the better team. Let’s see how it is next week,” he said. “They weren’t two goals better than us tonight and (Milan keeper) Dida kept them in it in the first half before we were caught cold before the break,” he added. “We are 2-0 down but anything can happen in this game. If we have (Brazilian striker) Adriano fit for the second-leg, he could make the difference.” (Reuters)