It didn’t feel like my Inter Milan, says wounded Simone Inzaghi after Champions League final thrashing

MUNICH – Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi said he barely recognised his side as they fell to a deserved 5-0 defeat at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final in Munich on May 31.

PSG captured their first Champions League title in devastating style, recording the largest winning margin for the final in the competition’s history.

The defeat marked a bitter end to a frustrating season for three-time European champions Inter, who fell short in three major competitions.

Booted out of the Coppa Italia semi-finals by bitter rivals AC Milan, Inter were second to Napoli in Serie A and ended the season empty-handed.

“It absolutely didn’t feel like my Inter out there – and the players are the first to know it,” said Inzaghi, whose side had reached the final with a thrilling 7-6 aggregate victory over Barcelona.

For Inzaghi, the loss was particularly painful, coming two years after his team suffered a narrow defeat against Manchester City in the 2023 final in Istanbul.

“I think PSG deserved to win,” Inzaghi, whose side were last crowned European champions under Jose Mourinho in 2010, told reporters in a brief press conference.

“There is great disappointment and bitterness because the boys have had a great run this season, and it’s hard to end with no titles.

“As a coach, I’m still proud. We’re not satisfied with tonight’s game. We approached it badly... We didn’t play the final in the best way, but I thanked the boys.”

PSG dominated proceedings, with teenager Desire Doue producing a scintillating performance, scoring twice and setting up Achraf Hakimi’s opener. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and substitute Senny Mayulu also found the net.

Inzaghi acknowledged his side’s shortcomings, saying that Inter struggled to match PSG’s intensity.

“We were more tired than PSG, who clinched the French title several weeks ago, while we were fighting for the Serie A until the final weekend,” Inzaghi said.

“We didn’t play well technically, they got there first... We knew they were stronger than us, we knew we had to be better, but we fully deserved the defeat.”

Inter midfielder Nicolo Barella agreed, but said: “Fatigue is not an excuse in a final.

“The impression is that they wanted it more and this is the biggest disappointment. Heart is much more important than tactics and today it was missing.”

Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer said his side were “unbelievably disappointed”.

Inter must now regroup for the Club World Cup in the United States in June, but Inzaghi admitted the pain of losing the Champions League final would not be easily erased and he would not be drawn on whether he would still be with the club at the tournament.

“Heavy defeats and finals leave their mark. We must all start again together,” he said.

"I won't answer that question (about the Club World Cup). I came out of politeness and respect for you, this defeat hurts too much.

“You come out stronger from defeats, we’ve been through this before and the following year we lost the Scudetto.

“I spoke to the lads and we need to hold our heads high, knowing that we came up against a stronger team who deserved to win.”

The former Italy striker has been strongly linked with a move to Saudi side Al-Hilal, who will also feature at the Club World Cup.

Inter president Giuseppe Marotta said they are keen to continue with the 49-year-old Inzaghi, if he wants to stay.

He said: “This defeat will not have an impact. Inzaghi has a contract for another year and we had already decided to meet with him this week.” REUTERS, AFP