Bastoni sets ‘minimum’ Inter expectation at Club World Cup after ‘exhausting’ season | OneFootball

Alessandro Bastoni insists that Inter must progress from the group stage of the FIFA Club World Cup at a minimum after what he has described as an ‘exhausting’ season on a personal and collective level.

The Nerazzurri picked up their first victory since the final match of the Serie A season with a 2-1 win over Urawa Red Diamonds at the Club World Cup on Saturday night thanks to late comeback goals from Lautaro Martinez and Valentin Carboni.

Bastoni, who started in Inter’s first game of the tournament against CF Monterrey, was afforded a rest and started among the substitutes against Urawa, although appeared as a second-half substitute.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JUNE 21: Lautaro Martinez #10 of FC Internazionale Milano celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group E match between FC Internazionale Milano and Urawa Red Diamonds at Lumen Field on June 21, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

“It took a lot of weight off, we were lacking a victory and we wanted to get back to winning,” Bastoni told Inter TV after full-time.

Inter’s previous two results were the 1-1 draw with Monterrey, and the 5-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final before it.

Bastoni: Inter season has been ‘exhausting’

“The goal we conceded was unexpected, but we were good at reacting to it,” Bastoni said about the Urawa match on Saturday.

MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 02: Alessandro Bastoni of FC Internazionale warms up prior to the Coppa Italia Semi Final match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 02, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“We were unlucky in some phases, but we showed character. Now we will be freer and more care free.

“We’ve always been compact and focused, but now we have to bring this spirit into this new beginning.”

Having been in the running for a treble in April, only to finish the 2024-25 season trophyless, Bastoni described the 2024-25 season as ‘exhausting’ both for him personally and for the team.

“I think it’s been an exhausting season. We’re not just here to participate, though. We want to do our best. We produce a lot, but others have the advantage. It was important to win because we needed to get back into the habit of winning.

REGGIO NELL’EMILIA, ITALY – JUNE 9: Alessandro Bastoni of Italy during the FIFA 2026 Qualifier between Italy and Moldova at Mapei Stadium – Citta’ del Tricolore on June 09, 2025 in Reggio nell’Emilia, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

“We didn’t come here for a holiday. The minimum goal is to get through the group. We’ve gone through difficult moments, personally it was not easy. There were some setbacks between the final and the national team, and it’s important to recover.

“We’re certainly available for the new coach. There’s no time to train new concepts now, but we are open to his ideas. He’s a great person, he came into the dressing room with a direct approach and he is helping us, we appreciate him a lot.”