Kolarov: "Inter don't need to prove anything to anyone but themselves"

Aleksandar Kolarov has said that Inter do not have to prove anything to anyone but themselves.

Serie A champions Inter, despite putting in a disjointed display against Bologna on Saturday, came away with a 3-1 win to make amends for their Champions League defeat to Club Brugge.

Bologna went ahead in the 10th minute through Tommaso Pobega, before Marcus Thuram equalised ahead of half-time. In the second half, substitutes Carlos Augusto and Ange-Yoan Bonny scored to secure the win.

Kolarov, speaking in place of Cristian Chivu for Inter, who sit top of Serie A two points ahead of Roma, stressed that the team are under no obligation to prove their quality.

"We don't have to prove anything to anyone but ourselves. We want to be more intense and play at a higher tempo both in and out of possession. In the second half today, in Madrid and in the first 50 minutes of the Club Brugge game we played at a good tempo on the ball," Kolarov said.

The coach went on: "This shouldn't be underestimated; we have to set the tempo starting from our defenders. It's true that we've had some problems, but we're also aware of our potential and we have time to make up the points we've dropped. We've had a few setbacks, but we know how strong we are. Our strength is our team spirit and the quality of the squad we have."

Inter are the side who have conceded the opening goal of the match most often this season across Serie A and the Champions League (6 times). The Italian giants are followed by Parma, Torino, Fiorentina and Venezia, on five each.

The Milan side face Shakhtar Donetsk in their next Champions League match.