Greek tragedy for Inter
Panathinaikos defender Josu Zumarraga Sarriegi (L) is ecstatic after scoring against Inter Milan during their Champions League tie at San Siro on Wednesday.Photo: AFP
Inter Milan scraped through to the Champions League knock-out stages despite a shock 1-0 home defeat to Panathinaikos at the San Siro on Wednesday.
Josu Sarriegi scored the winner for the Greeks on 69 minutes to give them a Champions League lifeline.
Panathinaikos only need a point at home to Anorthosis Famagusta in two weeks time to join Inter in the second round, although the Italians now need a result, possibly even a victory, away to Werder Bremen or they risk failing to top Group B.
Inter coach Jose Mourinho made no excuses for the defeat but suggested that there would be no difference between finishing first or second in the group.
"We deserve to go to the last game with Werder under pressure to finish first," he said.
"We're lucky to have qualified for the last 16 after a deserved defeat, well done to our opponents.
"The coach is always responsible for a defeat and I have to listen to and accept all criticism aimed at me. It seems to me that there is no difference between finishing first or second.
"If Roma beat Bordeaux, Chelsea will finish second. If Juventus draw with Borisov, Real Madrid will finish second.
"There is no difference between finishing first or second but my thinking is to go to Werder to win."
Panathinaikos's Dutch coach Henk Ten Cate admitted he didn't expect to be in this position after his team lost their first two group games.
"Surprised, yes of course. If you start the qualification group with two defeats, normally it's game over," he said.
"But we kept believing and I said there are still four games to play. My team is improving a lot. We came this summer and we are building a new team.
"The biggest success is that we made Greek players believe they can win away from home. Normally their self-belief away is not so big but they proved they can learn quickly. If you are well organised like we were today, you can surprise a lot of people."
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