Barella: I don't know how deserved the win was

Inter beat Shakhtar Donetsk at San Siro in the Champions League. The Nerazzurri played part of the match with 10 men because Alessandro Bastoni received two yellow cards in quick succession. The match could not be described as a convincing performance.

There were protests from the stands. Inter had lost to Real Madrid and Club Brugge in the Champions League this season. Carlos Augusto decided the match. Released by a long pass from Henrikh Mkhitaryan, he stayed composed in a one-on-one with the goalkeeper and scored.

Barella, who wore the captain's armband in the absence of the injured Lautaro Martinez, spoke to Sky Sport Italia. The international said they needed the win, that good football is pleasant but what mattered today was the result. Barella also added that he did not know how deserved the win was.

Shakhtar had not lost in the league this season. They had drawn 1-1 away at PSV Eindhoven and beaten AEK Athens 3-1. Barella acknowledged that the opponent showed quality, tempo and intensity. Saying that playing a man down is a big disadvantage in modern football, Barella explained that it was natural for the opponent to come forward, while his side used the counterattack well.

Attributing the sluggishness in the first half to a lack of energy and to nerves caused by the pressure to win, Barella said they needed to fix the start of matches. Reminding that in some games they had fallen 2-0 behind, the player also admitted that he could speak up more to his teammates.