Inter have a golden chance to turn European failure into domestic triumph, according to former AC Milan and Juventus coach Fabio Capello.
The Champions League returns this evening as the last 16 ties get under way, but Antonio Conte’s side will be watching from the sofa after they finished bottom of their group before Christmas.
The Nerazzurri have become many people’s favourites for the Serie A title as a result, though, with Conte now free to plan one league game in meticulous detail each week.
“The elimination from Europe can turn into a big advantage for Inter,” Capello argued in an interview for Tuesday’s print edition of La Stampa.
“The Nerazzurri’s squad is competitive, built to play in multiple competitions, so being able to think only about the league makes them the favourite in the league.”
Conte’s side are currently leading the way in Serie A after 22 games played having picked up 50 points, the same points total Inter had at this stage the last time they won the title back in 2009-10.
They are the only team in Italy’s top seven to be out of Europe, with Juventus, Atalanta and Lazio in the Champions League and AC Milan, Roma and Napoli still featuring in the Europa League.