It will be a strange season in Milan next year as both Milan and Inter will miss out on European football for the first time in 60 years.
While only Real Madrid have won more European Cups than AC Milan’s seven, the red side of the city has not been a real European power since 2007. Inter on the other hand were crowned champions of Europe as recently as five years ago.
In a memorable night at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid five years ago the Inter side that defeated Bayern Munich 2-0 in the Champions League final contained Javier Zanetti, Esteban Cambiasso, Wesley Sneijder, Samuel Eto’o, a healthy blend of experience and top class talent which fired Inter to the pinnacle of Europe.
But Jose Mourinho decided to stay in Madrid and coach Real and the the Nerazzurri made bad decision after another in replacing the Special One. Replacement Rafa Benitez didn’t last half-a-season as Inter ran through six managers in four years before bringing back Roberto Mancini last season.
With that much instability in the manager position it is not wonder the treble conquering side was quickly broken up as world class players left and were replaced by average players.
Inter Form Since 2010
- 2009-10: Serie A (1st) Champ Lge (Winners)
- 2010-11: Serie A (2nd) Champions Lge (QF)
- 2011-12: Serie A (6th) Champions Lge (L16)
- 2012-13: Serie A (9th) Europa League (L16)
- 2013-14: Serie A (5th) No European football
- 2014-15: Serie A (10th) Europa League (L16)
Inter’s recruitment since the Champions League win has been abysmal. They went from signing some of the best to the likes of Nemanja Vidic and Lukas Podolski, good players but both had seen better days. Xherdan Shaqiri is another player pinched off the bench from a European rival (and defeated 2010 finalists) Bayern Munich, while Gary Medel was signed from a relegated Cardiff team.
Even the club’s pursuit of Manchester City star Yaya Toure reeks of the same failed recruitment process. A nice player, with a big name, who is on the downside of his career.
By comparison look at Serie A champions Juventus who finished a massive 32 points ahead of Inter last season. The Champiobs League finalists have already signed 28-year-old Sami Khedira on a free transfer and Palermo striker Paulo Dybala, who is the second best young striker in Serie A (behind Inter’s Mauro Icardi). Two quality players that are far better than anyone that Inter could hope to sign.
Right now both Milan clubs are playing with average squads and until ambition increases in the transfer market, neither Mancini or Inzaghi will have much hope of helping Inter or AC reach the top of Italy again any time soon, let alone Europe.
