Inter Milan: Can They Shock The Football World?

Whenever a shock result occurs, there is a feeling of disbelief, trying to comprehend the unexplainable. An example is Liverpool's Champions League win in 2005 against a stacked AC Milan. Coming from 3-0 down to tie the game 3-3 and win on penalties. Ironically, that game took place at the Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul, which will stage the Champions League final on June 10th, where Football Club Internazionale de Milano or Inter Milan could shock the world if they can pull it off against Manchester City.

Knowing that they are the underdogs, Inter would relish the opportunity to create their own history and deny Manchester City a historic treble by denying them the trophy they have craved. One of the most recognisable and storied clubs in European football, their famous black and blue jersey has been worn by Javier Zanetti, Esteban Cambiasso, Diego Milito, Samuel Eto'o, Ronaldo de Lima, Lothar Matthaus, Wesley Sneijder and Christan Vieri. They won the Champions League three times in 1964, 1965 and 2010; Jose Mourinho led them in that historic season, where Inter won the treble, the only Italian side to achieve that feat.

Since the historic season, Inter has been through years of mediocrity. Failing to qualify for the Champions League from 2012 to 2018. Also experienced seasons without any European football. The decline of Italian football in the 2000s meant Inter had financial struggles, with the Moratti family, who have controlled Inter for decades deciding to sell the club in 2012. Now under the control of Chinese businessman Steven Zhang since 2016, Inter has flexed its muscles to compete domestically and in Europe. This has come at a cost, as Inter suffered a loss of 211 million pounds in 2021, suffering heavily from the impact of the Covid pandemic. Eventually, taking a loan of 275 million euros that same year from Oaktree Capital.

From 2017 to 2021, Inter spent close to six hundred million euros in building their current squad. Acquiring Lautaro Martinez, Romelu Lukaku, Milan Skriniar, Nicolo Barella, Achraf Hakimi and Stefan de Vrij. Also, by appointing Antonio Conte in 2019, Inter had a star figure in the dugout. Missing out on the title in 2020 by a solitary point, Inter blitzed their way to the title in 2021, their first since 2010. Conte would depart after, thus Inter appointed current coach Simone Inzaghi. The Italian has carried on from Conte, regularly qualifying in the Champions League places and winning two Coppa Italia titles. 

Inter's exploits in Europe took longer to bear fruit, failing to make it to the knockout stages under Luciano Spaletti and Conte. Conte would lead Inter to the Europa League Final in 2020 but lost 3-2 to Sevilla. Under Inzaghi, Inter's form in Europe improved, making it to the knockouts last season for the first time since 2012. However, they lost to finalist Liverpool in the Round of 16. This season, Inter beat Barcelona to qualify for the knockouts, beating FC Porto narrowly in the last 16, taking care of business against Benfica in the quarterfinals and winning convincingly against city rivals AC Milan in the semifinals.

Inzaghi has played in a pragmatic 3-5-2 or 5-3-2 formation, staying compact and going on the counter-attack when they have possession. Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni and Skriniar have been the starting central defenders, while Denzel Dumfries and Federico Dimarco provide the width in defence and attack. Barella, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Hakan Calhanoglu offer steel and guile in the midfield, while Martinez and Edin Dzeko are the striking strikers. Martinez has been the man for Inter this season, scoring 27 goals in all competitions. Lukaku, Marcelo Brozovic, Robin Gosens and de Vrij provide quality depth whenever changes are required.

With the oldest squad in Serie A, this season could be the last of this Inter team together. Similar to the Inter side of 2010, who also had an ageing squad. Having won Serie A and the Coppa Italia, winning the Champions League would cap off an era for the Nerazzurri. With financial struggles still lurking around them, making the final and qualifying for next season has helped their bottom line for now. The attention will be more on their opponent Manchester City, but if Inter can pull it off, they will have the last laugh.