Now that this chapter has concluded, it`s time for reflection. A careful assessment that views the difficult match in Munich not as the sum total of four years, but merely the final, unfortunate act of that journey.
The aim here is not to discuss the mutual decision for Inter and Simone Inzaghi to part ways, but simply to evaluate the period during which Inzaghi`s destiny was closely tied to that of the Nerazzurri.
Let`s begin with trophies, which ultimately matter most in football, especially to fans. And it`s undeniable that Inter won relatively few trophies during this time. Two Italian Cups and three Italian Super Cups over four seasons – for a squad widely considered the strongest in the league – appears to be a modest return, although certainly not a complete failure.
And no, however significant an achievement, “reaching finals” cannot be counted among the trophies. Never. While it must be acknowledged and indeed highlighted that going deep into a demanding competition like the Champions League – especially in its current format – inevitably drains energy that would have been beneficial in the league. In essence, to put it simply: had Inter been eliminated from the Champions League earlier, perhaps they would have won the league title. Or, at least, they would have had fewer “alibis” for not succeeding. The Nerazzurri squad, while superior to others in Serie A, wasn`t equipped enough to compete deeply in both competitions simultaneously, much less aim for a Treble.
However, Simone Inzaghi`s tenure with Inter should not and cannot be viewed solely negatively. Stepping back from analyses focused only on the trophy cabinet, Inzaghi proved fully capable of managing a club like Inter, even if he made some questionable choices and had disappointing results in important matches. These incidents generated significant noise. The derby loss in 2022, which effectively handed the Scudetto to Milan, remains the original sin, perhaps never fully forgiven. The points dropped this year against weaker teams in the Scudetto race are perhaps the biggest regrets, because yes, despite the demanding Champions League run, the league title was within Inter`s grasp for a long time. The fact that Napoli deservedly triumphed is also explained by those aforementioned stumbles. Four of them, not just one. And at a crucial point in the season. That, perhaps, is the biggest error attributable to Inzaghi.
Finally, in chronological order, there is the final in Munich. A disaster. A true collapse, impossible to forget, and an indelible stain on the entire journey.
Yes, faltering in some of the most important matches over the four years (some, not all, despite what some say, quickly forgetting many victories) represents a significant limitation, especially when some losses can be attributed to the coach`s choices. But, indeed, nobody here is claiming Inzaghi is infallible or never made mistakes. He made errors that affected crucial games, and this is undeniable. But he is the same coach who often pushed Inter beyond their perceived limits with valuable tactical insights that it would be unfair, incorrect, and disingenuous not to acknowledge.
In short: Could he have done better? Yes. Is Inter`s “little” trophy haul solely his fault? No. Because Inzaghi (and many of the players, it must be said!) failed in the final against PSG, but without Inzaghi, perhaps that final wouldn`t have even been reached. Because Inzaghi didn`t manage energy perfectly towards the end of the league campaign – undoubtedly – but it`s not his fault that the backup strikers behind Lautaro and Thuram were inadequate. Because Inzaghi won few titles – yes – but if the majority of Nerazzurri fans consistently supported him and already miss him, there must be a reason. And it likely lies in something that goes beyond mere results.
