In a recent 1-0 win over AC Milan, Inter Milan showed maturity and control, which has been a rare occurrence in the club’s history of bad decisions, unforced errors, psychodrama, chaos, and squandered opportunities. The victory over their crosstown rivals amounts to a 3-0 aggregate win and opens the door to the UEFA Champions League final in Istanbul on June 10.
Even when Inter Milan was winning the Treble under Jose Mourinho, they rarely showed the sort of self-assurance they have displayed in this Champions League campaign. This season, the club has treated their warts as beauty spots, masked their weaknesses with intelligence, and not lived every imminent setback as if it were a harbinger of doom.
Critics and pedants may point out that the 2010 Treble winners faced a higher caliber of opponent in the knockout rounds, whereas this Inter side dispatched FC Porto, Benfica, and a stumbling Milan. However, this is not about Inter being good, but about Inter being the best they can be.
Inter Milan’s Victory Against AC Milan
Inter Milan’s victory over AC Milan was a pageantry and choreography of a derby. However, the tension on the pitch seemed primarily heaped on Milan’s shoulders. Inter took it in stride, got on with it, and played their game.
Milan had their only shot on target of the night twelve minutes into the game. Inter limited the opponents to just five shots overall while liberally taking attempts and winning the expected goals (xG) battle along the way. Inter trusted their rearguard, and none of them were expected to be starters at the beginning of the year.
Inter bottled up Rafael Leao, leaving Tonali fighting windmills in the middle of the park. Inter Milan’s trademark substitutions did the rest, with a fresh Romelu Lukaku coming on in the last 25 minutes.
Most of all, Inter was not fazed by the occasion, the tactical fouls, or their history. They may well get smoked in Istanbul, but they are playing with house money anyway. Whatever happens, it’s highly unlikely they’ll beat themselves in Istanbul, like so many of the Inter teams before them. They’re too grown up for that.
Inter Milan’s Veteran Midfield
Inter Milan’s veteran midfield knows how to make their experience count. They may not have the legs to cover every blade of grass, but they play with the abandon of attacking players determined to show they can do the blue-collar stuff too.
Inter Milan’s manager Simone Inzaghi pushed on and tried to play out from the back when they could, despite the opposing team’s expectation that they would sit deep and hit on the counter.
Mkhitaryan and Calhanoglu won out against Milan’s undermanned duo of Tonali and Rade Krunic. They may be stretched when they face whoever they face in the final, but they play with confidence and control.
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