Coppa Italia: We almost pulled off a miracle against Inter – Botond Balogh

Botond Balogh's legs did not tremble in San Siro. Parma's 20-year-old center back was given a chance as a starter in the lost match (2–1 in extra time) against Internazionale in Coppa Italia on Wednesday night. Balogh took the chance he was given: according to the InStat data analysis system, he won three-quarters of his duels, intercepted eleven times, won sixty percent of his header duels, 86 percent of his passes were accurate and all five of his tackles were good against one of Italy's strongest teams.

„I don't usually get nervous before matches, but I was now in a healthy way because, since the morning, I knew I was a starter,” said Botond Balogh, who played his first Serie A match in San Siro on October 31, 2020, when the final score was 2–2.

„It gradually disappeared by the start, and I felt very confident. In the first 15 minutes, I had four interceptions, I took one from Robin Gosense, then I stole twice from Lautaro Martínez and then one from Joaquín Correa. If I hadn't done these, I might have felt a bit down, but after a series of good decisions, I was very calm and felt comfortable on the pitch. The team also performed above expectations, we took the lead with a bomb goal, we were up to the challenge.”

But Milan equalized in the second half: in the 88th minute, Botond Balogh slipped in a pass from the right which bounced the ball into the path of Lautaro Martínez, and the world champion Argentine striker fired a shot into the top left corner from 16 meters out.

„I felt I could have headed the ball better, but I had a hard time because I had to run backwards and head the ball in, so I couldn't put more power into the move, and it was a soft, weak pass,” the defender of one cap recalled the equalizing goal. „I've rewatched the event many times and I try to learn from it.”

Although Parma created several great opportunities in extra time, the hosts, the favorites, won the game.

„It's painful to be knocked out because we almost pulled off a miracle. The scenario of the match was similar to two years ago when Inter equalized in extra time. In my experience, it's much harder to play against Serie B teams, I feel more comfortable on the pitch as the defender against Lautaro Martínez or Joaquín Correa than when I have to hold the striker in the second division.

I'm looking for a reason for that, maybe it suits me better to have players at the higher level because they are more technical and present a different challenge than the second-tier players. Even though we have not yet faced any other opponents like Inter, I feel that my best performance of the season was on Wednesday.

It was the first time I had played a hundred and twenty minutes at the senior level, I got very tired, but I didn't feel exhausted during the game, I was full of adrenaline. According to the measurements, I ran the most in the team, my physical indicators were good. I hope that I was able to prove myself and that the professional staff will give me a chance in this weekend's tournament as well. I want to be part of the Hungarian national team in March, but I need to play more and at a high level to deserve the invitation.”