A necessary premise, to avoid any misunderstanding: Inter’s splendid run is the result of the excellent work of all the members, of the market conducted by the management and of the contribution offered by many – practically all – protagonists, on and off the pitch. Calhanoglu was decisive at times, Acerbi and Bastoni constant, Thuram decisive in times of need, Frattesi providential, Sommer attentive, Barella tough… (see Scoreboard for details).
However, the 2024 Scudetto won hands down by Inter has two faces: that of Mr. Simone Inzaghi and that of Lautaro Martinez. It might seem banal and obvious, but in reality it isn’t that obvious.
Simone Inzaghi was for years a coach who wasn’t appreciated enough: his Lazio team played well, brought home cups, did well in derbies and brought out the best in its protagonists, sometimes unexpectedly. At Inter, net of the sporting suicide of 2022, he did, if possible, even better: his team always offered good football while always maintaining careful defensive resistance and without ever persisting in bizarre tactical strategies aimed at garnering the praise of the many commentators are now ready to brand a coach as a “phenomenon” only if he is able to take certain tactical concepts to the extreme.
Inzaghi did not lose his character, he was able to adapt his football to that inherited from Antonio Conte and, just when it seemed that the Inter “cycle” was over, he revitalized it, bringing the Nerazzurri one step away from winning a historic Champions League. And, in his own way, although probably with the best equipped team in the championship, he reached the historic goal anyway, bringing home the second star and achieving it before his Rossoneri ‘cousins’.
Then, however, there is Lautaro. Without him, we can say without any fear of contradiction, the Nerazzurri’s season would not have been the same at all. Five goals in the first three days, just to make their intentions clear immediately. 16 overall in the first round, out of 17 matches played.
And, above all, a moment that perfectly summarizes the impact of the ‘Toro’ on Inter’s Scudetto. It’s September 30th, a Saturday evening. Milan have just got rid of Lazio and Inter have to respond on the pitch of a Salernitana team, not yet “desperate” but already in difficulty. A few days later, Benfica will arrive at San Siro and Simone Inzaghi launches a mini-turnover which also involves Lautaro. The score doesn’t break the deadlock and at minute 55 Inzaghi decides that it’s time to send Lautaro onto the field who, without being asked, not only breaks the deadlock but decides to overdo it by scoring 4 goals in 27 minutes on poor Ochoa. From the right, from the left, from a penalty. Without making a difference. And yes, maybe it didn’t happen against the best equipped team in the championship, but that match is the watershed of the season and delivers a verdict: Inter has the most decisive player in the championship and he will be the one to drag them to the Scudetto. No sooner said than done.
