The Champions League final on Saturday is a battle between youth and experience, between football's old guard and a club supported by a government, but it also aims to disprove the stereotype that Inter Milan is a traditional Italian defensive team. That label will not hold up against a team that scored seven goals against Barcelona over two games and 79 goals in Serie A, where they were defeated by one point. Napoli, the new Italian champions, scored 59 points.

After 12 touches, Inter's first goal against Barcelona was scored by a Marcus Thuram back-heel, and the second was the result of a spectacular volley from a wing-back. Lautaro Martinez is a club icon who has scored at least 20 goals in five of the previous six seasons and 19 in the one that he didn't. In 2024–25, his collaboration with Marcus Thuram—with the goal of winning a medal that his father Lilian had not won—produced 13 goals in as many Champions League games. Thuram has scored 14 goals and seven assists, making it his best season ever. In fact, even Francesco Acerbi, the center back, has broken his goal drought.

Inter have demonstrated in Serie A that they can play without the ball and that they have the skills necessary to maintain it more than any other club (fbref.com lists it as 59.7%, the highest possession rate in the league). Inter have typically been clinical in front of goal, but they have also scored three goals at Barcelona and won at Bayern. And they did, in fact, let up just one goal during the league round. It is also a fact that this is Inter's second final in the last three campaigns.

They might have defeated Manchester City in 22–23, but if they manage to do so against a well-oiled Paris St-Germain (PSG) – Opta predicts a 46.4% chance that Munich will win – it would demonstrate that Simone Inzaghi is a coach who can handle adversity just as well as he can part his hair in the middle. He will also add to his trophy collection at Inter, which includes a Serie A championship, three Italian Cup victories, and three Italian Super Cup crowns. Since 2010, Inter will be making their Champions League debut.

On Monday, Inzaghi stated, "The boys have been extraordinary this season because we played 59 games, and that (Champions League win) would clearly make all the difference in the world."

Inzaghi, 48, had just won his first Serie A title and Inter's 20th when, according to an AP story, the team was acquired by the US investment company Oaktree following the Chinese ownership Suning's inability to pay off a debt of $448 million. It meant that there was not much going on during the summer transfer window. To put things into perspective, since 2011, when Qatar Sports Investments acquired PSG, they have spent more than $2.28 billion on players. The price of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia alone was €70 million in January. Players joined Inter for nothing.

Givemesport.com reports that the average age of PSG's starting lineup on most European evenings was 23.3, while Inter's was over 30. Acerbi is 37, while Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Yan Sommer are both 36. Marquinhos, at 31, is the oldest member of the PSG team. The lack of squad depth may have caused Inter to lose the league and the Italian Cup, but it has also meant that, with the exception of Sommer, Thuram, and Benjamin, the club has been unable to bring in any new players.

Everyone is familiar with what it's like to lose a Champions League final, Pavard

"The club, and above all the players, know that we're missing that final step to make history," said Inzaghi. "Obviously already having played the final helps you, but we also know that on the other side there are players who have won the World Cup and have played in other finals, as well as a coach who has already won the Champions League."

Since the Dane's heart ailment prevented him from playing in Italy, Inzaghi's first season at Inter in 2021–22, when he took over for Antonio Conte, saw the departures of Romelu Lukaku, Christian Eriksen, and Achraf Hakimi. However, Inter came within two points of winning the league. They competed in the Champions League final the following season, and in 23–24, Inter deserved better than losing on penalties against Atletico Madrid after winning Serie A.

According to Inzaghi, if you can make the locker room smell of team spirit, no barrier is too high. Opta had now predicted that Inter would win the competition that has been redesigned this year, placing them behind Real Madrid and Manchester City as the favorites.

During Inzaghi's time as a player for both club and nation, he was overshadowed by his older brother Filippo, who has won the World Cup and Champions League. "Thankfully, I was born a meter on-side," Filippo "Pippo" Inzaghi had retorted to FourFourTwo in response to Alex Ferguson's statement that Inzaghi Sr. was born off-side.

However, it has been the complete opposite as coaches. However, Simone Inzaghi will only be recognized as a manager when he wins the most difficult club tournament in the world. Just ask Pep Guardiola. Simone Inzaghi stated, "Then, well, Pippo and I will ask our parents what was the greatest satisfaction for them."

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