After the 1-0 defeat at home to Inter Milan in the Champions League, the Young Boys players agree that more could have been possible.
"We sensed that there was something to be gained today," said YB coach Joël Magnin on behalf of the team. That's why he brought on two strikers, Meschack Elia and Cedric Itten, in the closing stages. They had wanted to provoke the surprise, but unfortunately the lucky punch came from the other side, said Magnin. The decisive 0:1 was scored by substitute French striker Marcus Thuram in the 93rd minute.
The Bernese full-back Lewin Blum thought that "we succeeded in a lot of things. We played courageously and tried to press up front with a lot of power. We've been lacking this presence somewhat recently. We can certainly take a lot of positives with us that will spur us on."
Good approaches
Central defender Sandro Lauper commented that they could be proud of bringing Inter Milan to the brink of defeat: "Yes, definitely. But in the end it's the result that counts. That's why the disappointment is great, so soon after the game. We had a very good game plan, which we were able to implement and we didn't concede much. We were a bit lucky with the penalty (Marko Arnautovic was denied by David von Ballmoos in the 48th minute) and the odd Inter chance, but we worked for it."
In view of their performance in the Super League so far - they are in third-last place after ten rounds with just two wins - it is clear to Lauper that the Bernese side have not yet been able to bring the desired level of play to the pitch. "But we've made good progress and we can certainly take our fighting spirit with us."
Still without a goal
Because of the late goal conceded, YB are still without points in the Champions League after the third game. However, with Aston Villa (0:3), FC Barcelona (0:5) and now Inter, the Bernese have also faced the three best opponents in the current league phase. "Now we face teams against whom we can play a bit more offensively," Lauper is convinced. The Swiss champions will continue in the top flight on November 6 in Gelsenkirchen against Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk.
While the Bernese players had to comment on the next defeat, Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer is on course with Inter, who now have seven points to their name. Sommer has still not conceded a goal in the Champions League. He had words of praise for YB: "They closed down the spaces well and were very aggressive. We noticed that, we made a lot of mistakes. That's why I'm very happy with how it ended."
Sommer also commented on the break he now has due to his retirement from the national team: "I really enjoyed having no pressure and more time for my family and myself. But of course I was rooting for the team. I am now a fan."
SDA
