Lukaku, Eriksen on target for Inter

ROMELU LUKAKU and Christian Eriksen were on target as Inter Milan moved into the last eight of the Europa League with a 2-0 win over Getafe yesterday.

Manager Antonio Conte was all praise for the Nerazzurri, telling Inter TV: “I hoped to find the guys so on track, ready to answer everything because in different phases the match got dirty.

“We knew Getafe were a good team and in addition to fighting for every ball and pressing, they have good qualities. We were good at getting dirty and at the same time we created chances.

“We could have scored a few more goals, we would have been more relaxed. Credit to Getafe who deserved to stay here, but also credit to my boys.

“If you did not arrive with the right attitude today you could only lose and make a bad impression, instead today we have withstood the pressure and they must be given credit for that.

“Progressing in Europe is also a chance to gain experience. I’m happy with the performance.”

Conte, when asked about the importance of top goalscorer Lukaku to the team, said: “We could’ve had an even better scoreline. Romelu scored a great goal, attacking the space with the other striker moving towards him.

“I think Romelu took a while to get into the game but I like what I saw. It was a positive evening, I am glad that the lads proved they want to keep going and aren’t ready to go on holiday yet.”

In the other Europe League matches yesterday, Shakhtar Donetsk thumped German side VfL Wolfsburg 5-1 on aggregate after a 3-0 win in the return leg in Kiev while FC Copenhagen beat Turkish champions Istanbul Basakshehir 3-0 at home to wipe out a 1-0 first-leg deficit. – AFP/Reuters/Agencies