Inter must win the Serie A title otherwise this season will have been a failure, according to an Italian newspaper report today.
Antonio Conte’s side have only the league left to focus on after being knocked out of the Coppa Italia by Juventus on Tuesday.
Tuttosport’s print edition argued that qualifying for the UEFA Champions League alone would not be enough for the Nerazzurri to salvage their campaign, despite the economic advantages brought by finishing in the top four.
“Inter have had a worse season in the cups than they did last season,” the Turin-based paper pointed out.
“Winning the Scudetto is the only way they can prevent their season from being a big flop.”
TS argued that while Inter had never explicitly stated in public that the Scudetto was their objective this season – not least because of their inability to make signings last summer or in January, due to Suning’s financial problems – Conte would have nowhere to hide without the league title.
Inter were said to have a squad of the highest quality which was capable of clinching the Scudetto, despite ‘structural deficiencies’ which every team has at the top of the table.
Conte’s side are currently second in the Serie A standings, two points behind AC Milan, ahead of the final Derby della Madonnina of the season on February 21.
Before that, Inter host in-form Lazio in a crunch match at San Siro on Sunday.