Inter CEO Beppe Marotta feels that even with the team’s performances in Serie A being below expectations, they can still say it’s been a positive season on balance.
Speaking to Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia, via FCInterNews, the Nerazzurri executive gave his appraisal of the season to date, and also how much there still his to play for in the remaining month or so.
Inter went into this season widely considered to be among the favourites to win the Serie A title.
Accordingly, the fact that the Nerazzurri are so far from league-leaders Napoli, who could mathematically clinch the Scudetto today, has certainly not met with expectations.
The same can be said for other pre-season title contenders like AC Milan and Juventus.
In recent weeks things have gone from bad to worse for the Nerazzurri in the league as they’ve slipped from their top four spot, although if they can claw their way back into the top four starting with this afternoon’s massive match against Lazio, disaster would be averted.
Meanwhile, whilst Inter have been below expectations in the league, they have certainly surpassed them in the Champions League, whilst another Coppa Italia final is hardly something to be taken for granted.
Asked if the Champions League semifinal tie against AC Milan or this afternoon’s league clash with Lazio are more important, Marotta replied “We’re Inter, so both.”
“We always have to keep the bar extremely high,” he continued.
“We’re writing a beautiful chapter in the Champions League, and deservedly so,” he went on.
“And then in the league there’s a kind of mini-league between six teams [for the top four spots] after Napoli’s success has been all but assured.”
Asked if the Champions League revenues from this season can help Inter’s future plans financially speaking, Marotta said that “Financial planning, sustainability, is hardly a matter of increased Champions League revenues, we still need a general analysis of Italian football.”
“We, as with many other Italian clubs, are running at a loss,” he continued.
“All [Champions League knockout stage revenues] revenues do is limit the losses of our club at the end of the season,” Marotta said.
“And then this discussion goes hand-in-hand with the more noble matter of sporting success, we have to act logically throughout.”
Asked how he’d judge Inter’s season to date, Marotta replied “I’d say it’s been positive on balance, apart from the Scudetto which is something we should always be in the running for.”
“Due to Napoli’s exploits, we, as with many other teams, have been out of the race for an Italian flag on our chests,” he noted.
“But then we’re going far in the Champions League, quite extraordinarily and also unexpectedly, which is also important on a financial level.”
“Not to mention the Coppa Italia,” Marotta added.
“We will make a general evaluation come the end of the season, but right now I can say that the evaluation is positive.”
And regarding the future of Romelu Lukaku, currently only on loan from Chelsea, Marotta said that “The fact of his love for the club and for the city is an important factor, but after June 30 he’ll be a Chelsea player again and we’ll evaluate things together.”
“At the moment I’d just underline the total professionalism of the player concerned and his sense of belonging here, which can be important factors on the pitch and in terms of being competitive,” he added.