Treble Ambitions. Simone Inzaghi departed Rotterdam after the match against Feyenoord – a game that significantly boosted their chances of reaching the Champions League round of 16 – with a renewed sense of confidence. He believes his team can compete for every trophy still available: the Scudetto, Coppa Italia, and Champions League, precisely the treble.
However, this optimism comes just four days after a draw against Napoli, a missed opportunity in the league title race, and a match that left a bitter taste due to a lackluster second-half performance. It’s important to consider the numerous absences that have plagued Inter recently when making an objective assessment. Therefore, the sudden surge of enthusiasm, while perhaps not directly initiated by Inzaghi himself, seems somewhat disconnected from a reality that presents a more nuanced picture.
The consistent control displayed during the match in the Netherlands last Wednesday, the feeling that Inter was never in danger of leaving “De Kuip” with anything less than a comfortable victory, cannot simply erase the issues that have emerged over the past month of games. Inter currently appears to be a tired team, lacking physical sharpness and mentally fatigued by a relentless schedule of matches. This demanding sequence has even eroded some of the confidence within a squad where not all players are equally reliable. Inzaghi’s management choices have also contributed to this situation. From the late draw against Milan in the league derby, through the slip-ups against Fiorentina and Juventus, and culminating in the narrow 1-0 win against Genoa and the draw with Napoli, Inter has shown a version of themselves far removed from their dominant form of last season. A pessimistic view suggests Inter is in decline, possibly nearing the end of a cycle, potentially allowing teams like Atalanta and especially Juventus, who seemed out of contention, to rejoin the Scudetto race.
Furthermore, another aspect often overlooked is the comparison with top European teams. While comparisons to Conte’s Napoli might be less relevant – considering Napoli was focused on a single competition and not exceptionally strong technically – comparisons with European giants reveal a different story. While Inzaghi deserves credit for restoring Inter’s European stature in terms of play and personality, Italian critics seem to be short-sighted regarding events beyond national borders. Consider this: has anyone watched the matches between Barcelona (who played a significant portion with ten men) against Benfica, and Bayern Munich against Bayer Leverkusen? These two potential obstacles on Inter’s path to the Champions League final in Munich are teams that, in terms of tempo, individual quality, and overall team play, are hardly comparable to any Italian team, not just Inter.