Less than two months have passed since Lautaro and his teammates achieved a stunning feat against Flick`s team. Today, the Nerazzurri world has completely turned upside down, and the squad is fractured.
May 6, 2025. It was the night of Inter-Barcelona, the historic evening that led to reaching the second Champions League final in three years and a series of revivals: primarily for Inter, who redeemed a terrible end to April after 3 consecutive defeats against Bologna, Milan, and Roma that cost them the chase for the Scudetto and Coppa Italia; then for Acerbi, whose pure striker`s touch extended the challenge against the Blaugrana into extra time; and for Frattesi, who completed the comeback against Flick`s team, celebrating until he was out of breath. The adrenaline level had shot through the roof. Dreams felt tangible. And, Coppa Italia aside, everything was still open: Inter was soaring in Europe on the back of an epic campaign, confident that while PSG might be technically stronger, they were less ready – or accustomed – to a Champions League final stage. Meanwhile, the chase for the Scudetto against Napoli wasn`t over. A single slip-up from Conte`s side was all that was needed, which occurred but was dramatically squandered. The Double, with the Club World Cup objective to chase shortly after, was still there, in clear sight, within reach. Fifty-five days after that magical evening with Barcelona at San Siro, the Nerazzurri world has literally flipped upside down. And the `titles` remained stuck at zero, despite Inter having 5 competitions from which they could have won at least one (Serie A, Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italiana, Champions League, Club World Cup).
From Euphoria to Depression
It`s true that the season was long, tiring, and grueling, but Inter started with the strongest squad in Italy and came from significant growth in Europe. Finding themselves today discussing what could have been, but wasn`t and won`t be, is already the most disappointing defeat of all. But how could a team that was competing in the most prestigious competitions less than two months ago collapse so dramatically, finding itself split in two? Inter-Barcelona was the biggest illusion in the recent history of the Nerazzurri: that team truly seemed like the `unplayable` side, capable of overturning a written destiny not only against the Blaugrana but also in the league.
Goodbye Scudetto
The victory over Torino on May 11 and Napoli`s draw with Genoa at the Maradona reduced the gap at the top and postponed any discussion of the Scudetto until the penultimate matchday. A week later, Conte`s team failed to win in Chivu`s Parma and put the Scudetto into Inter`s hands. All they needed was to win against a Lazio side that was far from unbeatable. In fact, they just needed to manage their lead over the Biancocelesti – gained with just 10 minutes left – to arrive at the final turn in Como with three-quarters of the title sewn up. And instead… Bisseck`s handball, Pedro`s penalty in the 90th minute, goodbye Scudetto. Not the ideal way to approach the Champions League final against PSG.
Disaster Completed
Even today, more than a month later, no one at Inter can explain the evening in Monaco. A disastrous approach, the worst game of the season, fear, intimidated expressions, and nothing else. A 5-0 defeat cannot even be commented upon. It seemed like the perfect ending to a tragedy. And yet – it seems incredible, but it`s true – everything continued to get worse: Inzaghi`s doubts, Simone`s departure to move to Al-Hilal, with whom he (unlike Inter) will play in the Club World Cup quarter-finals, the controversy, the accusations, the prolonged attempt to snatch Fabregas from Como, Cesc`s rejection, and the last-minute choice of Chivu. Who, however, has not (yet?) managed to turn the resounding fall into a slow ascent.
Final Collapse
Barely surviving the Club World Cup opener against Monterrey, the tournament ended poorly despite a victory against Urawa Red Diamonds, followed by a positive recovery against River Plate which seemed to have given Inter some breathing room and, more importantly, placed them on the favorable side of the bracket. Fluminense in the round of 16, potential quarters against either Al-Hilal or Manchester City, avoiding PSG, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Borussia Dortmund all on the opposite side. Good, right? No. Against Fluminense came the shocking elimination, followed by the harsh words from Lautaro and Marotta towards the absent Calhanoglu, the Turk`s response, and a fractured group. All of this, absolutely everything, in just 55 days. From May 6 to June 30. From the stars with Barcelona to the flames post-Fluminense. And who knows what the next episodes of this thriller TV series, risking becoming a tragedy, will be.
