September 19, 2024

Inter Milan Prove They’re Champions League Contenders

Just one night against a Premier League giant, they hinted that one of San Siro’s tenants couldn’t win the Champions League. With their storied history, AC Milan took the lead over Liverpool within three minutes. But after 90 minutes, it became clear that their hopes for an eighth European Cup in 2025 were unrealistic.

Just 24 hours later, in a Milanese showdown against English rivals, Inter showed a different side—defensive strength, sharp counterattacks, and smart tactics. This highlighted how they are rivals and the opposite of their neighbors. Pep Guardiola suggested Inter is even stronger than the team that narrowly missed out in the 2023 Champions League final. While some of his praise might seem over the top, it felt accurate as Inter held their ground against Manchester City. “We played better than we did in Istanbul,” Guardiola stated.

Additional evidence supports his claim about facing tougher opponents: Inter Milan finished 18 points behind in Serie A during the 2022-23 season but won the title by 17 points last season. If they can hold their own against Manchester City for 90 minutes, they might be able to challenge them over nine months in Europe. While the top favorites for the Champions League likely include only Real Madrid and City, there are solid reasons to consider Inter as a strong contender in the next tier of potential winners.

Inter showcased their quality at the Etihad Stadium. “We put in a giant performance,” said Simone Inzaghi. “I asked them to play exactly as they did. We all know what Manchester City are capable of. We knew we had to pull out all the stops and play a great game, and we did it. We created some really good chances as well.”

Guardiola called Inter “masters of defending.” Alessandro Bastoni’s ability to handle Erling Haaland showed he can manage any striker. The City manager pointed out that Inter surrounded his forward with six players. This was classic Italian defending.

The unique characteristics of Italian football make Inter a distinctive team. Serie A often feels isolated, yet Inter defied current trends by employing a 3-5-2 formation, which consistently provided them with space and led to 13 shots. “Italian teams are so difficult,” Guardiola said. “They create problems in transition.” Inter strikes a balance, not being overly reliant on possession while demonstrating impressive tactical organization.

Their intelligence is matched by their manager’s. Inzaghi often feels underrated outside Italy but is one of Europe’s top managers. Success in the Champions League relies on skills in knockout matches. Inzaghi built his reputation as a cup specialist long before winning Serie A.

Underestimating Inter: A Resilient Force in European Football

Serie A might be why some underestimate Inter, though not Guardiola. The league’s period of dominance feels increasingly distant, with Inter’s 2010 Treble-winning team being the last Italian side to win the Champions League. However, there is a wider trend of Italian clubs experiencing a resurgence in European competitions.

Once known for its large budgets and star players, the league now lacks the same glamour. Inter competes on a budget, remaining in the race thanks to their exceptional recruitment.

Piotr Zielinski, Marcus Thuram, Hakan Calhanoglu, Medhi Taremi, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan were all signed for free. Francesco Acerbi, Yann Sommer, Yann Bisseck, and Matteo Darmian cost less than £10 million each. Since the 2023 final, they’ve managed despite losing Andre Onana and Marcelo Brozovic. They didn’t even have Romelu Lukaku at that time.

The city triumphed in Europe partly due to its strategic spending, supported by larger budgets. If a team can win the Champions League using mostly free transfers and low-cost signings like Inter, it raises the question of why other teams haven’t followed suit, making such an outcome seem less likely.

Inter boasts both quality and depth. “They will be there for many years because they created a deep squad,” said Guardiola. Injured Federico DiMarco didn’t even travel to Manchester, and key players like Lautaro Martinez and Denzel Dumfries started on the bench but are certainly part of Inzaghi’s top lineup; Davide Frattesi could be as well. However, Inter already has a talented midfield with many admirers. “[Nicolo] Barella is an exceptional player and Calhanoglu,” said Guardiola. Zielinski, meanwhile, was exceptional when Napoli won Serie A. “We wanted Zielinski to join us because we knew he could give us a lot,” Inzaghi said.

There are plenty of options, and a clever manager like Inzaghi knows how to choose the right ones. After a challenging decade following Jose Mourinho’s 2010 victory, Inter are starting to rise again. The situation could become even clearer in the future.

Last season’s Champions League was a missed chance for Inter. Atletico Madrid eliminated them in a penalty shootout while many of the top teams were in the other half of the draw. “This team won the Scudetto last season and didn’t do enough in the Champions League, so this year we want to do more in Europe,” Barella said. “We reached the final two years ago. Our ambition is to do it again, then in football anything can happen.”

Some predictions have been bolder than the idea of Inter going one step further than in 2023. Fifteen seasons since their last victory, and with European football in need of a fresh champion, Inter haven’t been this well-prepared to compete since Mourinho left for Madrid.

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