Inter President Steven Zhang has revealed that at the start of the season, only striker Romelu Lukaku believed that the Champions League final was possible for the Nerazzurri.
Speaking to Italian broadcaster SportMediaset, via FCInterNews, the Inter President reacted to the Nerazzurri booking their place in the final in Istanbul, noting that it had been the Belgian who first believed it could happen.
Inter have needed to come a very long way to get to this point.
A group containing Barcelona and Bayern Munich saw many write off the Nerazzurri even getting into the knockout rounds. Then, knockout ties against the likes of Porto, Benfica, and AC Milan have all thrown big challenges Inter’s way.
However, the Nerazzurri have risen to the occasion each time.
It may not have looked likely at the start of the campaign. However, Inter President Zhang has stated, Lukaku always felt that it was something that could happen.
Inter President Zhang: Only Romelu Lukaku Believed In This From The Start
Zhang told Mediaset that “It’s still hard to believe. At the start the only one who believed in the Champions League final was Romelu Lukaku. And he managed to predict the future!”
“And I thought he was joking…” the Nerazzurri President added.
Zhang noted that “Inter is a club with a history of success.”
“We bought it seven years ago knowing what the focus was,” he continued. “I want to keep going like this.”
Steven Zhang Backs Simone Inzaghi Despite Criticisms
Zhang then responded to criticisms of the job that coach Simone Inzaghi has done this season.
“Every season has its own story, there are ups and downs,” he said.
“Inzaghi has a winning mentality,’ the President said. He did very well to get the team on the right track.”
Asked which out of Manchester City or Real Madrid he’d prefer to get in the final of the Champions League, Zhang replied that “They’re two great teams.”
“Inter have already gotten out of a group with two very strong teams,” he noted.
“It will be a wonderful final, we can give anyone a hard time.”
