​Inter Milan president Giuseppe Marotta has said that retaining the Scudetto would be a historic achievement, yet the club must also raise its game in the Champions League while competing with European financial giants. Pre-season training commenced today at the Appiano Gentile complex, where Inter begin the new campaign as reigning Italian champions, having clinched both the Scudetto and the Coppa Italia.
“We are privileged to start the new season as the holders of Serie A and Coppa Italia,” Marotta stated at his press conference. “We’re immensely proud of two hard-fought victories, earned through our work ethic, sense of belonging, and the coaching staff, players, and club’s support. Now we begin with a clean slate. We have fresh objectives, and we are the only team competing in four competitions: Serie A, the Champions League, the Supercoppa Italiana, and the Coppa Italia. The Supercoppa will be decided in a single match against Lazio.”
The change of coach from Simone Inzaghi to Cristian Chivu proved to be a largely unlikely success story, but it came with a sacrifice: a disappointing showing in the Champions League. “These are all prestigious targets, but we must do better in the Champions League,” Marotta added. “Last season we were eliminated by Bodo/Glimt, but that is part of what makes this sport so wonderful.”
The club’s efforts to rejuvenate the squad this summer have been hampered by unsuccessful transfer pursuits, notably the loss of Marco Palestra to Chelsea. “We understand that we face difficulties and are up against European powerhouses, also in terms of their investment capacity, but we participate with a work ethic that has always helped us stand out. It’s not guaranteed that whoever spends the most money will win, but we can compensate with a winning project built on consistency, quality, and the value of our players, among other factors,” the Inter president emphasized.
While the Champions League remains a target, Marotta also cautioned that domestic standards are continually rising. Inter will need to balance ambition on the continental stage with the ongoing pressure to perform at home, especially as they seek to defend their league crown amid intensified competition and stronger spending by rival clubs.