Inter Milan has reached the Champions League final for the second time in three seasons, securing their spot after a thrilling semifinal victory over Barcelona, sealed by Davide Frattesi`s goal in the dramatic second leg. Following their 1-0 defeat to Manchester City in the 2023 final, Simone Inzaghi`s side now has another opportunity for European success. As they prepare for the upcoming final in Munich on May 31st, a key question arises: how is this Inter team different and potentially better prepared than the one that faced Manchester City last year? Here are the key factors contributing to their increased readiness.
Enhanced European Experience
This time around, the squad led by Simone Inzaghi possesses significantly greater European experience and a different mindset compared to their 2023 final appearance. Last year, their journey to the final felt somewhat like a surprising run, aided by a relatively more favorable knockout draw against Porto, Benfica, and their city rivals AC Milan. Their path this season, however, involved navigating a tougher group phase to finish among the top teams, followed by impressive victories over Feyenoord and Bayern Munich in the knockout rounds. This journey, coupled with previous challenging ties like facing Liverpool in 2022 and a closely fought match against Atletico Madrid in 2024, has forged a more robust European mentality within the team. Unlike 2023, where simply reaching the final against Pep Guardiola`s formidable side felt like a remarkable achievement, there is now a palpable sense of self-belief and earned confidence derived from consistent high-level European competition and facing difficult opponents.
The Lautaro Martinez and `Thu-La` Factor
Lautaro Martinez has emerged as the undisputed leader since taking over the captaincy in the summer of 2023. His commitment is clear, exemplified by his determination to recover and play the crucial second leg against Barcelona despite a recent injury. For the World Cup and multiple Copa America winner, the Champions League represents a potential final major club honor, a dream he pursues with visible passion and dedication. His consistently high level of performance this season is also significantly linked to his potent partnership with Marcus Thuram. This `Thu-La` duo has proven highly effective, offering a dynamic and productive attacking threat that arguably surpasses the previous striking combinations seen in 2023, providing Inter with a more reliable cutting edge upfront.
The Motivation of a Potential Cycle`s End
Adding another layer of motivation, there`s a distinct feeling surrounding this squad that the upcoming final could represent the potential climax for the current group of players before significant changes are expected, likely in the summer of 2025. Club leadership, acknowledging the shift under new owners Oaktree, has indicated a strategic plan to refresh the roster with younger talent while ensuring continued competitiveness at the highest level. While some departures are expected this summer, a more substantial overhaul is anticipated later. This sense of it being potentially the `last dance` for certain players within this specific iteration of the squad could provide powerful added motivation to achieve European glory together. Unlike the post-Treble era after 2010, where Inter struggled to maintain success following Jose Mourinho`s departure, the club appears determined to proactively manage this transition to sustain an elite level into the future, but the current group has the chance to cap off their time together with a historic win.
Dominic Ashworth