Lahm was wrong about Inter Milan

Inter Milan continues to be the hope of Italian football.

Earlier this month, Philipp Lahm wrote a controversial article in The Guardian . The former German international commented that Italian teams could no longer keep up with the intensity of modern football, and asserted that "Serie A will continue to lag behind if it does not change."

That statement is true, because the poor performances of Atalanta, AC Milan and Juventus in the Champions League this season say it all. The top three Italian teams were all defeated miserably by teams from Belgium and the Netherlands in the play-off stage. Only Inter Milan were the exception. The "Nerazzurri" not only advanced, but are also candidates for the 2024/25 Champions League title.

The difference

Inter Milan's exploits against Bayern Munich show that they are a notable exception to the generally bleak Serie A picture. The 2-2 draw against Bayern in the second leg of the quarter-finals, while not a landslide victory, demonstrated Inter's organisation and resilience.

Lautaro Martinez and Benjamin Pavard scored crucial goals to help the home team overcome pressure from Bayern Munich. Unlike the “empty tank” image that Lahm described of Italian football, Inter showed tenacity and sharpness, especially at key moments.

At the start of the season, Inter Milan were not considered the top contenders for the title. They spent sparingly in the transfer market amid financial difficulties. However, victories over Arsenal and Bayern Munich in the Champions League this season have proven that the Nerazzurri do not need the spotlight to create miracles.

In the last three seasons, Inter Milan have reached the Champions League final once and the semi-finals once. That record is better than Manchester City, Barcelona or Bayern Munich. While Lahm believes that Italian clubs need a “reboot” to catch up with the pace of modern football, Inzaghi’s Inter Milan seem to be one step ahead, becoming the proudest representative of Serie A in the past half decade.

Simone Inzaghi's talent

Obviously, for a team with a low squad value like Inter Milan (compared to Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or Manchester City) to reach the semi-finals of the 2024/25 Champions League, it must rely on the talent of Simone Inzaghi.

Inter have been a force in the Champions League for the past three seasons.

The younger Inzaghi made history by taking Inter to the Champions League semi-finals for the second time in three years. This achievement made Inzaghi the second Inter coach to achieve this feat, after the legendary Helenio Herrera, who took Inter to the semi-finals four seasons in a row from 1963/64 to 1966/67.

Lahm has referred to Bayern's 2-0 defeat to Inter in the 2010 Champions League final, when Mourinho's side used a solid defensive strategy and effective counter-attacks. That was also the last time a Serie A team won the European Cup.

However, Simone Inzaghi's Inter of 2025 play a modern game and are willing to push the pace of the game when needed. They are ready to go toe-to-toe with Bayern, as evidenced by the four goals they have scored in their two quarter-final matches.

Lahm has pointed out the decline of Serie A over the past 15 years, arguing that Italian teams lack initiative, determination and physical strength on the pitch, with statistics showing that the team that runs the least in the Bundesliga still outpaces the team that runs the most in Serie A. He even likened Italian teams to a Ferrari that has lost power, lacks fuel and cannot finish the race.

But that is clearly not the case with Inter Milan. They may not be the richest team in the Champions League, or the most highly rated, but they are an opponent that everyone is wary of at the moment. Inter Milan not only maintain the tactical identity of Italian football but also show the ability to adapt to the modern flow.

Under Inzaghi, the team has not relied on the defensive style of play that has held Serie A back. Instead, Inter combine tight tactical organisation with sharp attacking ability, as they did against Bayern Munich.

Every angle of Saka's goal against Real In the early morning of April 17, Arsenal defeated Real 2-1 in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals at Bernabeu, including a beautiful goal by Saka.

Source: https://znews.vn/lahm-da-sai-ve-inter-milan-post1546576.html