Inter players were in tears on the pitch at the end of their 3-0 win over Sampdoria yesterday evening rather than celebrating, as they were aware that they had squandered an opportunity to win the Serie A title.
This according to today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, who argue that the sombre mood on the pitch reflected the scale of the opportunity that the Nerazzurri had thrown away to let city rivals AC Milan beat them to the Scudetto.
Inter beat Sampdoria 3-0 to sign off for their season with a win, but it wasn’t enough as the Rossoneri won their match against Sassuolo by the same scoreline to retain their two-point advantage at the top of the Serie A table.
The fans gave the players a big ovation for a season that had still been positive in many respects and had seen two trophies won and progression to the round of sixteen of the Champions League, but despite the respect and appreciation there was little to celebrate on the night.
Federico Dimarco in particular was in tears at the final whistle as he knew well that it had been long confirmed that the Rossoneri would not slip up and give them the opportunity to overtake at the top of the table no matter what scoreline they saw off the Blucerchiati by.
It had been the Nerazzurri, instead, who had slipped up, first with their run of dreadful form in February and March which saw them let go of a significant advantage at the top of the table which made them appear to be clear title favourites, and then with their defeat away to Bologna last month when they’d appeared to regain their composure and had the chance to see out the title.
Striker Lautaro Martinez was also among the players who was visibly upset at the final whistle, whilst Nicolo Barella consoled his teammates.
The sense is that the players are aware that they were the strongest team in the Italian top flight for much of the campaign but had failed to make this count in the decisive moments, and that the tears were for a Scudetto that they threw away.
