Hapoel Beer Sheva vs Inter Milan - Stefano Pioli urges Inter Milan to improve

Posted Thursday, November 24, 2016 by PA

Inter Milan boss Stefano Pioli believes the adversity facing his side in the Europa League will help them rise to the challenge against Hapoel Be'er Sheva.

Pioli, having arrived at the troubled club earlier this month, will take charge of the Nerazzurri for the first time in continental competition and faces a stiff challenge.

The Serie A side are bottom of Group K on just three points and now only a monumental up-turn in form in the remaining two fixtures will give them a chance of progressing.

They were upset by Hapoel on matchday one, an ignominious 2-0 defeat at the San Siro that placed a big black mark against former boss Frank de Boer, and Pioli is viewing the return fixture positively.

"I think Inter need these do-or-die games. I'm not thinking about the other match in the group because we're focused on what we can control ourselves," he said.

"We know it's going to be hard but we're going to pull out all the stops and try to win.

"I've had a good look at our opponents. Hapoel Be'er Sheva are doing well in the league and they've done well in Europe too. They're good technically and they're a physical side but we've got what it takes to do well.

"We're working hard on and off the pitch to improve quickly."

Winger Antonio Candreva echoed his manager's sentiments.

"We have to keep believing right to the end because we're perfectly capable of fighting for it. Hapoel caused problems for us in our first match but we are Inter and we have to win."

Hapoel sit a point above their opponents but the balance of power in the group lies with Sparta Prague followed by Southampton.

A draw may be enough to keep their hopes alive if Southampton do not defeat Sparta but victory is crucial to their cause.

Head coach Barak Bakhar said: "Inter are a great team but we want to win. Are we favourites? Absolutely not.

"But it won't just be a football match, it is an event which involves the whole club.

"We lost two games, but if we win we can reach qualification."