MILAN (AP) — Inter Milan transformed its treble disappointment from last season into domination in Italy this year.
Inter Clinches Serie A Title
Inter beat Parma 2-0 on Sunday to secure the Serie A title, finishing 12 points ahead of second-placed Napoli with three rounds remaining.
The Nerazzurri can complete a league and cup double if they beat Lazio in the Italian Cup final on May 13. The last time Inter won both was when José Mourinho led the team to a historic treble in 2010.
From Despair to Dynasty
It's a far cry from the bitter disappointment of last year when a season that promised so much ultimately left Inter empty-handed.
With just over a month to go to the end of last season, Inter was on course for a treble of trophies but finished one point below Serie A champion Napoli, lost in the Italian Cup semifinals, and suffered a humiliating 5-0 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final.
Key Factors in Inter's Turnaround
New Management
While there was little surprise when coach Simone Inzaghi left Inter at the end of last season, the appointment of the relatively inexperienced Cristian Chivu raised a few eyebrows.
Inzaghi had been in charge for four years, steering Inter to the Italian league title in 2024 and two Champions League finals. He также won two Italian Cups with Inter before taking a lucrative job with Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal.
Chivu had only ever overseen 13 matches in Serie A, securing survival with Parma after being given his first senior coaching position in February. However, he knew Inter well, having spent the previous seven years in charge of various youth teams at the club, where he ended his playing career in 2014.
The former Romania defender was part of Inter's famous treble-winning team in 2010, lifting the Champions League, Serie A, and Italian Cup trophies. He also helped the Nerazzurri to another two Serie A titles among the nine trophies amassed during his seven years at the club.
Tactical Evolution
Chivu's fresh approach as a coach and new ideas reinvigorated Inter. He transformed the team into a more aggressive, high-pressing outfit and restored locker room harmony, while integrating young academy talents such as Pio Esposito.
Chivu also established new training methods at Inter Milan to enhance the team's overall fitness.
Injury Fortune
Proneness to injuries cost the Nerazzurri dearly in the 2024-25 campaign, but apart from Denzel Dumfries and Hakan Calhanoglu, key players largely avoided lengthy spells on the sidelines.
Captain Lautaro Martínez missed eight of the nine league matches before Inter clinched the title with a calf problem, returning against Parma.
That was in contrast to Inter's rivals, especially Napoli. The defending champions would likely have pushed Inter even harder for the title had injuries not hit Antonio Conte's squad all season.
Napoli's injury nightmare began even before the season started with star forward Romelu Lukaku ruled out for months. Kevin De Bruyne, Frank Anguissa suffered similar long-term injuries, while David Neres, Billy Gilmour, and Amir Rrahmani also missed large swathes of matches.
Midseason Struggle
At one point, Inter's season looked like it was going to collapse again like last year. The team was eliminated by tiny Bodø/Glimt in the Champions League but bounced back by beating lowly Genoa at home to move 13 points clear in Serie A.
However, that was to prove one of only two wins in eight matches — including defeat in the Milan derby. That saw Inter's lead slashed to six points in Serie A as well as leaving its Italian Cup semifinal finely poised following a 0-0 draw against Como in the first leg.
Championship Run
Inter ended that mediocre run with a statement 5-3 victory at Roma, and the Nerazzurri have not looked back since, rebuilding their dominance in Italian football.