Inter Milan Midfielder Stresses Need To ‘Close Out Games Earlier’ After Supercoppa Defeat To Bologna | OneFootball

Henrikh Mkhitaryan admitted that Inter must become more ruthless in front of goal after their Supercoppa Italiana campaign ended with a penalty shootout defeat to Bologna.

The Armenian midfielder was the first Inter player to speak after the match, addressing Sport Mediaset moments after elimination in Riyadh.

His focus was firmly on the 90 minutes rather than the lottery of penalties. “We have to talk about the match itself,” Mkhitaryan said, with quotes via FCInterNews.

“We should have closed it out earlier.” He acknowledged that once the game went to spot-kicks, the dynamic changed. “Penalties are a different story. We couldn’t find the breakthrough like we did against Atletico Madrid. We’re sorry about it.”

Mkhitaryan stressed that the issue is not a lack of chances, but how Inter manage them. “We always create a lot of opportunities,” he explained.

“We need to work on finishing games earlier.” The comment reflects a recurring theme in Inter’s season, where control and chances have not always translated into decisive margins.

Mkhitaryan: ‘That’s Football’ As Inter Milan Exit Supercoppa With Defeat To Bologna

BERGAMO, ITALY – APRIL 27: Henrikh Mkhitaryan of FC Internazionale looks on before the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and US Lecce at Gewiss Stadium on April 27, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Asked whether the club risks becoming obsessed with missing out on trophies, Mkhitaryan dismissed the idea and urged perspective.

“That’s football. It’s not 11 against zero,” he said. “Bologna deserved to be here after winning the Coppa Italia, and we weren’t able to win. There are no excuses. We put our heads down and work.”

The sense of disappointment was evident, but so too was determination. “It hurts, there’s a lot of disappointment,” Mkhitaryan admitted when asked how the team responds to the setback.

“But we’re aware of what we need to do. We’ll work harder to reach our objectives.”

For Inter, the Supercoppa exit is an early blow in a long season.

Mkhitaryan’s words, however, pointed less towards frustration and more towards responsibility, with a clear message: improvement must come through sharper execution, not complaints, as the Nerazzurri look to turn control into results in the months ahead.