AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli admits his players were flat for the start of their Champions League semifinal defeat to Inter Milan.

Inter are in control after winning the first-leg 2-0 with goals from Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the opening 11 minutes.

Pioli said, "We certainly didn't start as we should have and as we had prepared for it, even if Inter later scored from the first dead ball, but it's clear that they did better in the first half, they got there before us on second balls. Better in duels. In the second half the regret is for a goal we deserved.

"I know my team, my players, I know that Inter are very strong but we are no less. It will be a mentally heavy night for both teams and we have the possibility of straightening out this transition.

"We don't have that many centimeters, it's true. But we were surprised and they were good.

"Of course we have to be worried but my players are great professionals and they know we only have one last chance. We'll have to play it with everything we have, we want to reverse a difficult but not impossible situation.

"It's difficult, it won't be a stroll or an easy match, we know that. We'll try to score goals, take the lead, we just have to believe in it and play better than tonight, especially in the first half."