Handanovič's mixed feelings after Inter progress

• Inter through and win Group F under new coach Roberto Mancini after 2-1 defeat of Dnipro
• Samir Handanovič saves penalty with Inter 1-0 down but criticises performance
• Juan and Fredy Guarín enjoying life under Mancini, who turned 50 on Thursday
• Dnipro frustrated but hoping still to go through in two weeks' time
• Next games: Qarabağ v Inter, Dnipro v St-Étienne (11 December)

Samir Handanovič, Inter goalkeeper
We did not play well today. The approach was bad and the early stages were very difficult for us. I don't think it's a matter of the playing system because we just made naive individual mistakes. I think it's mostly a mental issue. The second half was much better for us – even when we were down to ten men, we were very solid, giving them space only on the flanks.

I think we were fortunate to win tonight. I'm happy about the penalty I saved but this is football. Sometimes you make mistakes, sometimes you make good saves. I'm happy that tonight it went well for me and for the team.

Juan, Inter defender
It was a very tough match, because Dnipro played extremely well and [Yevhen] Konoplyanka was very difficult to control throughout the game. However, we were able to cope with that and the fact we grabbed three points on a night like this gives us an extra motivation for our next Serie A fixtures.

Mancini told us in the dressing room that winning such difficult matches is a key factor in gaining the confidence we lack right now. We were very happy to give him a gift for his birthday.

The four-man line in defence is something I'm getting used to, just like all my team-mates. We must understand how it works, we must do it on the pitch. Little by little, the coach is teaching us what he wants from us. I am always willing to improve my game and I am also proud that I keep playing despite the changing of coach. Walter Mazzarri and Roberto Mancini are different, each has his working methods, but they are both good.

Fredy Guarín, Inter midfielder
I'm very motivated like the rest of the team. We ran and fought until the final whistle. Mancini has just arrived but I think he's brought joy and enthusiasm to the team and it was exactly what we needed. For me it's not very important if I play in midfield or just behind the forwards. Now I'm playing in midfield and I hope I can do well in this position.

Valeriy Luchkevych (left) takes on Dodô©Getty Images

Valeriy Luchkevych, Dnipro defender
I think we did not deserve to lose – we deserved a point at the very least considering how we played. In my opinion we played a very good game – we started well and could have easily taken a two-goal lead. We missed our chances while they scored. We were unfortunate to go to the break with the scores level. We had chances in the second half as well but it was not our night.

However, I still think we can qualify. Now we must beat St-Étienne at home and I think we will qualify if we do. San Siro is a great stadium and for me, as an 18-year-old, it was a great experience to play here. Unfortunately we lost, but I'm sure we can still go through.

Myron Markevych, Dnipro coach
I think we only lacked a bit of luck tonight – we deserved more. Inter managed to make the most of their chances, we did not. We are not used to facing big teams like Inter, after all.

Now we will play all our remaining cards against St-Étienne hoping that Inter will at least earn a draw at Qarabağ. Konoplyanka was very good and he was not even at his best physically because he had just recovered from an injury. It's a shame about his penalty because he always scores them in training.