“In The Eye Of The Storm” – Senior Figures At Inter Milan Carefully Navigating Potential Controversies

CEO Beppe Marotta, coach Simone Inzaghi, and senior defender Francesco Acerbi are navigating Inter Milan through stormy waters of controversy.

This is highlighted in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews.

The past few weeks have not just seen the title race between Inter and Juventus heat up on the pitch.

There have also been brewing controversies off of it.

The sense is that now, mind games have fully become part of a two-horse race in which both of the main contenders for the Serie A title will struggle to hold their nerve.

Veteran defender Acerbi was the first to really react to this mounting atmosphere.

The 35-year-old stated his view forthrightly that Inter and Juventus are held to different standards.

Whilst the Nerazzurri’s success is almost taken for granted, the Bianconeri keeping pace with them at the top tends to be framed as a “minor miracle” or overperformance.

Acerbi pointed out that this does not exactly reflect the stature of the two teams.

The Nerazzurri and the Bianconeri are both historical giants of Italian football. And it is in fact the latter who have spent more to assemble their squad, in transfer fees and wages.

And yet it is Inter who feel the pressure to win week in and week out.

Whilst Juventus can earn more praise just for getting the job done.

Marotta, Inzaghi & Acerbi Navigating Inter Through “The Eye Of The Storm”

Acerbi’s remarks exposed the feeling that the mind games are starting to become pervasive, and Inter know it.

But recent events have further intensified the sense of controversy.

Specifically, a highly questionable VAR decision (or rather, non-decision) in Inter’s Serie A win over Hellas Verona on Saturday has opened the floodgates of criticisms and grievances.

Few deny that Inter’s stoppage time winner should not have stood, due to a foul in the buildup.

But at the same time, this was not the first big error in a Serie A match this season.

There was the penalty that Bologna did not receive in a match where Juventus salvaged a point. Or AC Milan’s late winner against Bologna, courtesy of an apparent attacking handball.

But the fact that the title race has raised the tension has really shone a bright and hot spotlight on the scenes at the San Siro on Saturday.

There have been innuendos of favouritism. And even suggestions of a deliberate bias favouring the Nerazzurri in the title race.

It is amid this backdrop that Marotta spoke out yesterday.

The Inter CEO’s message was clear. Errors and controversies happen, and are a part of football.

But Marotta completely brushed aside the notion of favouritism or refereeing conspiracy.

He did everything he could to emphasize that Inter are currently top of the table on merit. And whichever team lead the way in May, will also deserve it.

Marotta’s words, nor coach Inzaghi’s, will not quiet the controversies outside of Inter.

But the evidence seems clear. Inter’s most influential leaders don’t wish to stoke the controversy, or create a “siege mentality” the galvanize the team.

The plan is to simply focus on the pitch, and let the controversies rage on externally.