Eight minutes were on the clock at De Kuip in Rotterdam on Tuesday when the 25-year-old defender pressed high, took a touch between two Feyenoord players and curled the ball low past Tjark Ernst with the inside of his left foot. It was his first goal in the Champions League, and the shape of the strike sat closer to Bayern Munich forward Michael Olise’s trademark finish than to anything you expect from a centre-back.
Francesco Pio Esposito doubled the lead on 34 minutes and Piotr Zielinski made it three in the 54th, per AFP’s match report. The opener was the moment of the night.
Inter needed one. The Nerazzurri had lost 3-1 in the Milan derby on Saturday and taken only three points from their first three Champions League group games. Head coach Cristian Chivu told reporters afterwards that character mattered more than quality on the night.
“We knew that quality was already there. It was about determination, pride, and character,” Chivu said.
Read also: Lisandro Martinez takes step towards Man Utd exit as Atletico Madrid agreement emerges
A finger-to-lips reply to the critics
Bisseck ran to the cameras after scoring and held a finger to his lips, a celebration aimed at the noise that had followed Inter out of the derby.
“I celebrated like this because it just came to me,” he told the club’s official channel. “After just eight minutes, I didn’t really think about it, but the win is the most important thing.”
He framed the night as a message to anyone who had written Inter off after the weekend.
“What the fans say is important to us, we remain united and I think we’re on the right path.”
Read also: Historic Champions League triumph gives Fabregas new options
Two days out from the Germany call
The Champions League goal arrives two days before Klopp names his November Germany squad for the final Nations League group-stage fixtures of the year, away to Serbia in Belgrade on 13 November and at home to the Netherlands in Berlin on 16 November. Klopp called up an expanded 44-man group for his first four games in charge; his list on Thursday, according to dpa, is expected to be back to a standard size.
Bisseck is already in Klopp’s plans. He started at centre-back alongside Jonathan Tah in Germany’s 1-0 defeat to Greece in Augsburg on 27 September, Klopp’s first loss as national team manager, and picked up a yellow card inside 20 minutes.
A curling finish on a European night in Rotterdam is a different kind of audition.
Klopp’s squad is named later on Thursday. Inter return to Serie A at home to Como this weekend.
Read also: Andy Madley faces calls to be dropped after Liverpool-Arsenal controversy
Read also: Ait-Nouri talent is being wasted at City
