A Legacy In Full
MILAN — Inter Milan transformed its treble disappointment from last season into domestic domination this year. The Nerazzurri beat Parma 2-0 on Sunday to secure the Serie A title with three rounds remaining, finishing 12 points ahead of Napoli.
Inter can complete a league and cup double if it beats Lazio in the Italian Cup final on May 13. The last time the club won both trophies was under José Mourinho in 2010 — the same season Inter completed the treble.
The trophy did not need much decoration; the season had already done most of the talking.
The turnaround from last year is striking. Inter finished one point below Napoli in Serie A, lost in the Italian Cup semifinals, and was routed 5-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final. With roughly a month left last season, the club was on course for three trophies and ended empty-handed.
The Numbers That Last
Here is where Inter turned things around: after Simone Inzaghi left for Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal, Inter appointed Cristian Chivu — a former Romania defender who had managed just 13 Serie A matches with Parma. The hire raised eyebrows. But Chivu knew Inter intimately, having spent seven years in youth roles after his playing career ended at the club in 2014. He was also part of the 2010 treble-winning side.
Chivu's fresh approach transformed Inter into a more aggressive, high-pressing outfit and restored harmony in the dressing room while integrating young academy talents like Pio Esposito. The tactical shift paid dividends.
Injury luck also shifted. Last season, Inter's injury proneness cost them dearly. This campaign, 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 clinching the title with a calf problem — returning against Parma. That was in stark contrast to Napoli, whose injury nightmare began before the season started with Romelu Lukaku ruled out for months. Kevin De Bruyne, Frank Anguissa, David Neres, Billy Gilmour, and Amir Rrahmani also missed large swaths of matches.
The Game That Followed
At one point, Inter's season threatened to collapse again. Eliminated by Bodø/Glimt in the Champions League, the club bounced back by beating lowly Genoa at home to move 13 points clear. That proved one of only two wins in eight matches — including defeat in the Milan derby — which sliced Inter's lead to six points. The response was decisive: a statement 5-3 victory at Roma. Inter has not looked back since, rebuilding its league lead and beating Como to reach the Italian Cup final.
For Inter, this title answers questions about the club's direction after a painful 2024-25 campaign. The question now is whether Chivu's system can sustain this level — the answer will come in the cup final and beyond.