Inter Milan find themselves switching gears to clinching the Serie A title after disappointment in the Champions League.
Today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via FCInterNews, take stock of the Nerazzurri’s shift in priorities after crashing out of Europe’s top club knockout competition.
There is no disguising the disappointment that exiting the Champions League against Atletico Madrid represents for Inter.
The Nerazzurri had every reason to be optimistic prior to the second leg of their round of sixteen tie.
A 1-0 advantage from the first leg, and a very convincing performance, seemed to show that Inter were ready to try and match last season’s heroics in Europe, where they reached the Champions League final.
But it proved to be a different story in Madrid. The intense pressure on the pitch from the Atletico Madrid players and in the stands from the crowd overwhelmed Inter.
This represents failure in one of the objectives for the season.
But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing left to fight for for Inter.
Inter Shift Gears To Serie A After Champions League Disappointment
In their domestic league, Inter now must keep their concentration and clinch the Serie A title.
There is no doubt that the Nerazzurri are the big favourites to do so. The sixteen-point advantage that they have over AC Milan looks like a veritable chasm.
But Inter know that they cannot take anything for granted.
Nor can the team allow themselves to experience any “hangovers” from the bitter blow that came in the Champions League in midweek.
Tomorrow, Inter host last season’s champions Napoli.
There is a certain symbolic significance to the match.
Last season, the Partenopei were dominating Serie A at this stage on their way to the title. This time they are struggle, and it’s Inter who have proven the outstanding team in Italy.
Now, the Nerazzurri have to do everything they can to keep proving it.
