Inter CEO Beppe Marotta has weighed in on the future of Simone Inzaghi as coach and the team’s plans, based on whether the team qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Speaking to Italian broadcaster SportMediaset prior to this evening’s Coppa Italia match against Juventus, via FCInterNews, the CEO acknowledged that the Nerazzurri’s plans will depend on whether or not the team are in Europe’s top club competition next season.
The rumour mill is certainly swirling not just about whether Inzaghi will remain as Inter coach, but also pretty much every aspect of the future of the Nerazzurri.
Of Inzaghi, Marotta said that “We have faith in him and we’ve always made that clear, he has a contract with us which means that our relationship of trust in him is one that is meant to last for multiple seasons.”
“We’re happy because we’re still fighting on three fronts at this stage of the season, this evening we’ll give everything to fight for this competition.”
“We’ve been inconsistent in the league and we need to find consistency again, although the fact that the team are in the semifinals of the Coppa Italia and the quarterfinals of the Champions League shows that the coach has done a good job,” he added.
“It’s also the case that the financial situation has to be considered when we think about the future, if we were to miss out on the Champions League next season then we’d have to change our strategy financially speaking,” the CEO added.
Of what the team need to get back on track on the pitch, Marotta suggested “Unity, a strong sense of responsibility, and a culture of work.”
“These are the best therapies for us.”
“We need to find the right motivation, and then it’s up to the coach to look at the entire group and decide who he’ll put out on the pitch, he’s the leader.”
Asked to weigh in on the team’s constant inconsistency in the league, Marotta suggested that “When we’re up against a top team, the players need no extra motivation to get themselves fired up.”
“On the other hand, when you face teams in the league who are inferior on paper, then you have everything to lose.”
“We’ve dropped points against the provincial teams, sometimes more because of our own faults than because of the quality of the opposition,” he continued.
“It’s likely a matter of mentality, lack of focus, and underestimating the opposition.”
“This inconsistency in the league is the major black mark on our season,” Marotta said.
Asked to respond to Juventus coach Max Allegri’s comment that the Bianconeri are not favourites this evening, the Inter CEO was coy, stating that “Allegri is a good communicator.”
“We know that Inter, Milan, and Juve are always under pressure to constantly get results,” he went on.
“But to get results you need great performances.”
“Allegri did well to take the right actions to get his team out of a tough moment,” he said of the Juventus coach.
Asked whether he and Inter Vice-President Javier Zanetti have made their presence felt with the team, Marotta said that “We’re directors who work very closely with the team, you mentioned Zanetti, but Ausilio and Baccin are always there with us as well.”
“We speak with the players all the time, even yesterday we did so at lunch.”
“The dialogue is always ongoing, but it can’t interfere with the authority of Inzaghi who’s still the leader,” Marotta said.
Of the pressure that the team faces, Marotta said that “We’re all under scrutiny, if the results don’t go our way then in the end we’re all guilty, not just the coach.”