Why Inter’s march to the Champions League final is an underdog story | OneFootball

Inter somehow overcame Barcelona in extra-time in the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League. The ultra-excruciating tie  wasn’t something Inter fans expected their side to endure and come through, considering how the last few weeks have gone but the Nerazzurri did it.

Simone Inzaghi’s side have looked tired for many months this season. In the second half today, they were almost running on fumes. When Barcelona could bring on Robert Lewandowski, the Nerazzurri had brought on Piotr Zielinski, an aging free agent who has had a poor season. They brought on Matteo Darmian, who is certainly reliable but not a game changer by any means. They brought on Mehdi Taremi, who has disappointed this season and also brought on eventual match-winner Davide Frattesi, who is constantly criticised.

Out of them, only Frattesi cost Inter a transfer fee and he could have easily been sold by the club in the summer as his agent wanted an exit.

That is the reality that Inter operate in. The Serie A’s finances operate much different to how things function in the other leagues. While Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal and even ‘financially struggling’ Barcelona have a glut of resources, Inter do not.

The Catalans relied on the likes of Firmin Lopez and Hector Fort late in the game, Inter didn’t have a single youngster to depend on. The Serie A isn’t known for youth production and Inter, like many Italian sides, struggle with the problem.

Inzaghi’s side were also propelled by the performance of a brilliant Yann Sommer. The Swiss had arrived as a replacement for Andre Onana two seasons ago, joining from Bayern Munich for only €6m. He made two flying saves to keep Inter in the tie and defined how Beppe Marotta operates in the market.

So much of Inter’s success is simply down to adapting to the situation at hand. Yann Bisseck wasn’t the most well-known talent when he joined the club. But he has delivered two reliable performances against Barcelona.

The 37-year-old Acerbi, who could have left the club last summer, is also an example. He had joined on a free transfer – like many others in the side, and has earned a reputation for pocketing some of the best strikers on earth.

It isn’t to say that Inzaghi doesn’t have three world class players like Nicolo Barella, Alessandro Bastoni and Lautaro Martinez in the side. They do. But they form a spine of a team that otherwise has to make ends meet and rely on tight budgets to bolster their squad every season.

Beyond that, how Inter play is also definitive of how they always adapt. While Antonio Conte was more rigid in his approach, Inzaghi has more multi-functional players that fit his adaptive style of play. While Barcelona did cause problems, Inter always found solutions even during difficult moments and if anything, that is just emblematic of their identity.

Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN