⚠️ Inter out ❌ Chivu or players to blame, Thuram now a problem 😱 | OneFootball

Inter exits the Champions League and does so in the worst possible way. At San Siro, the Nerazzurri fans dreamed of a night of remuntada but ended up witnessing a historic defeat.

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Forget about "salmonari," as many have called them: Bodø/Glimt - semifinalists of the last Europa League - played two great matches, fully deserving to advance. If the synthetic pitch was an excuse in the first leg, last night at the Meazza, the playing field should have helped Chivu's team, which instead ended up paying for technical errors and less physical freshness.

This latter detail was inevitable: since the beginning of 2026, Bodø has played just four matches, all in the Champions League and all against great teams, achieving a streak of victories: 3-1 against Guardiola's City, 2-1 at Atletico's home, and the double victory against Inter. The Norwegian league break, in short, had a significant impact.

🤔 Chivu's Faults

However, the physical form is an excuse that holds but is not enough to explain the two defeats suffered by Inter. The Nerazzurri are cruising towards their 21st Scudetto in the league and have recently shown overwhelming superiority, with 13 wins and one draw in the last 14 Serie A outings. So, what went wrong?

Well, first of all, the approach to this playoff. The first leg in Norway was not underestimated - at least that's what Chivu and the players have repeatedly emphasized - but the decision to leave out Dimarco and Zielinski suggests otherwise.

Moreover, the management of Frattesi. From the 12th man in the year of the second star to a player with just 855 minutes in these first eight months under Chivu. Then, surprisingly, starting again twice in 3 days, the second in a return leg that was worth the round of 16. Okay, Inter had an attacking game in mind, and the former Sassuolo player's insertions could have been useful, but the Romanian coach's choice is at least perplexing. 

And Bonny? The Frenchman, very positive at the start of the year, has seen less and less of the field, despite showing he deserved more chances. Even last night, in a game where Bodø wasn't giving away spaces, the 2003 class player's moves would have been needed much earlier than the 62nd minute when Chivu brought him on (also at 0-1). And if Thuram is like this...

😰 Thuram, Where Have You Gone?

So, Thuram. Here perhaps lies the great dilemma of Inter's season. Where has that wonderful striker gone who led the Nerazzurri to the second star and then to the Champions League final last year?

The Frenchman is increasingly a distant relative of the Marcus he once was and now truly risks being overtaken by Pio Esposito in the role of Lautaro Martinez's regular partner. From January 7 to today, his score reads just two assists and one goal (in the 5-0 against Sassuolo) in all competitions. Numbers don't tell the whole story, of course, but when you're a striker, it's normal for you to be judged primarily by them.

From the SkySport studios, in the post-match, Paolo Condò analyzed the words of president Giuseppe Marotta, who before the match - speaking of a possible elimination - assured that Inter would somehow balance the books.

Condò also speculated that one way to do so would be through a significant sale, perhaps even Thuram's. Having arrived in Milan on a free transfer, he would represent a considerable capital gain. A scenario that seemed far-fetched just a few months ago, but today - after Marcus's recent performances and Pio's emergence - seems the most viable path. First, however, there's a Scudetto to win. It would still be a nice way to say goodbye.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.

📸 Marco Luzzani - 2026 Getty Images