Mancini left speechless by Inter 'fools'

The Nerazzurri coach was astounded by the way in which his defenders switched off to allow Gonzalo Higuain to score in the dying seconds of their cup clash at the San Paolo.

A dumbstruck Roberto Mancini could do nothing other than label his Inter players as "fools" after they conceded a last-minute winner in Wednesday night's Coppa Italia clash with Napoli.

The Nerazzurri, who came into the game at the San Paolo on the back of two successive Serie A defeats, looked to have forced extra time thanks to an unusually disciplined defensive display.

However, with just seconds remaining, Gonzalo Higuain was allowed to pick up possession from a throw-in and the Argentine took full advantage, advancing forward before sending the home side into the semi-finals with a fine finish.

Mancini was lost for words by the naivity of his side's defending, telling Rai Sport: "I don't know what to say. I'm speechless. You cannot concede a goal like this."

"We played a good game against a great Napoli, but you certainly cannot win if you don't score goals."

"I don't remember the last time I lost three games in a row. I must have been only 10."

"But I repeat: losing like this hurts. We were fools. We were too soft in the decisive moments of the game.

"Gonzalo is a great and clever player, he quickly realised that the was a chance to score and he did so."

"But you cannot concede a goal like the one we conceded. We have committed the same type of errors that cost us the game against Sassuolo last Sunday."

Inter, who sit 13th in the Serie A standings, resume their league campaign with a home game against Palermo on Sunday.