Lahm was wrong about Inter Milan.

Inter Milan continues to be the hope of Italian football.

Earlier this month, Philipp Lahm published a highly controversial article in The Guardian . The former German international commented that Italian teams are no longer keeping up with the intensity of modern football, and asserted that "Serie A will continue to lag behind if it doesn't change."

That statement is true, because the dismal performances of Atalanta, AC Milan, and Juventus in this season's Champions League speak for themselves. The three top Italian teams all suffered humiliating defeats against teams from Belgium and the Netherlands in the play-off stages. Only Inter Milan is an exception. The "Nerazzurri" not only progressed deep into the competition but are also a strong contender for the 2024/25 Champions League title.

The difference

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

Lautaro Martinez and Benjamin Pavard scored at crucial moments, helping their team overcome the pressure from Bayern Munich. Unlike the "empty gas tank" image Lahm described of Italian football, Inter showed resilience and sharpness, especially in key moments.

At the start of this season, Inter Milan were not considered a top contender for the title. They spent sparingly in the transfer market due to financial difficulties. However, victories against Arsenal and Bayern Munich in this season's Champions League have proven that the Nerazzurri don't need glory to create miracles.

In the last three seasons, Inter Milan reached the Champions League final once and the semi-finals once. That's a better record than Manchester City, Barcelona, or Bayern Munich. While Lahm argued that Italian clubs needed a "reboot" to keep up with the pace of modern football, Inzaghi's Inter Milan seemed to be one step ahead, becoming the most proud representative of Serie A over the past half-decade.

Simone Inzaghi's talent

Obviously, for a team like Inter Milan, which doesn't have a particularly high-value squad (compared to Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, or Manchester City), to reach the semi-finals of the 2024/25 Champions League, it must be thanks to the talent of Simone Inzaghi.

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

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

Lahm once mentioned Bayern's 0-2 defeat to Inter in the 2010 Champions League final, when Mourinho's team employed a tight defensive strategy and effective counter-attacks. That was also the last time a Serie A team won the European title.

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

Lahm once pointed out the decline of Serie A over the past 15 years, arguing that Italian teams lack initiative, determination, and physical fitness on the field, with statistics showing that the team that runs the least in the Bundesliga still far surpasses the team that runs the most in Serie A. He even likened Italian teams to a Ferrari with reduced power, low on fuel, and unable to finish the race.

But that's clearly not true for Inter Milan. They may not be the richest team in the Champions League, or the most highly rated, but they are a formidable opponent that everyone fears at the moment. Inter Milan not only maintains the tactical identity of Italian football but also demonstrates the ability to adapt to the modern flow.

Under Inzaghi's leadership, the team didn't rely on the negative defensive style that was hindering Serie A. Instead, Inter combined tight tactical organization with sharp attacking capabilities, as seen in their victory over Bayern Munich.

Every aspect of Saka's goal against Real Madrid: On the morning of April 17th, Arsenal defeated Real Madrid 2-1 in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals at the Bernabeu, including a spectacular goal by Saka.

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