Inter CEO Beppe Marotta feels that whilst a meeting with city rivals AC Milan in the quarterfinal stage of the Champions League would be exciting, the real dream would be for the two teams to meet in the final of the competition.

Speaking to Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, the Nerazzurri executive gave his thoughts on the prospect of a Milan derby in the knockout stages of Europe’s top competition.

For Inter and Milan to meet in the Champions League, as last happened in the semifinal stage of the 2002-03 season, both city rivals must at least reach the quarterfinals, as in the group stage and round of sixteen teams from the same country are prohibited from facing each other.

Now, however, all bets are off.

Whilst there is essentially only a one in seven chance that the Nerazzurri and the Rossoneri would be drawn together for the quarterfinals in tomorrow’s draw, the possibility feels within reach, and a meeting would be even more likely if both teams go further.

“It’s something very evocative to think about,” Marotta said of the possibility of a Milan derby in the next round of the Champions League, “we would put on an exhibition for the whole world, in Milan it’s all anyone would talk about.”

“But it would be even better if the match were to be played in Istanbul,” he went on, “in the final!”

“That would be truly historic.”

“I’d like to be able to say to Milan, ‘see you in the final,'” Marotta reflected.

“The most important thing, however, is that we’ve brought back not just Inter but Italian football as a whole to the place it deserves to be.”

“After slipping down the rankings, we needed this kind of return, and in style,” the CEO noted.

“Whether the draw gives us Milan, or one of the other seven possible opponents, the most important thing for us is to get to the tie in ideal condition, without many injuries,”  Marotta said.

“Because over two matches you have to give absolutely everything.”

“Your own form is more important than whoever your opponent happens to be,” the Inter CEO suggested.

“Inter have a squad that allows us to look to the future with optimism regardless of who we happen to draw,” the CEO concluded.