Inter Milan President Insists ‘Serie A Should Be Reduced To Eighteen Teams | OneFootball

Inter Milan President Beppe Marotta feels that Serie A should be reduced to eighteen teams to lessen the burden of the fixture list.

The Nerazzurri President gave his view while speaking at the “Il Foglio a San Siro” event, as reported by FCInterNews.

At the moment, there are twenty teams in Serie A. That means that the Italian top flight season drags on for 38 matches.

Where this can become a problem is for teams that have multiple other competitions to juggle.

In the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana, there can be easily another half dozen domestic fixtures.

Then, European competitions add further fixture congestion. Not least with the expansion of the format.

This season Inter managed to dodge the round of sixteen playoff round, by qualifying directly for the knockouts.

However, the Nerazzurri have still already played eleven matches in the Champions League. They have one more on the way – and will hope to make it three by the end of the campaign.

And that is before even getting into the Club World Cup at the end of the campaign. The new format has added yet more matches to the schedules of certain clubs.

Inter Milan President Beppe Marotta: “Serie A Sould Be 18 Teams”

UDINE, ITALY – APRIL 08:Giuseppe Marotta of FC Internazionale during the Serie A TIM match between Udinese Calcio and FC Internazionale – Serie A TIM at Dacia Arena on April 08, 2024 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

It is hard to see where teams and players can find time to rest amid such a hectic schedule.

With the Club World Cup this summer, Inter President Beppe Marotta said that “it’s the first time with the new format, so we’re proud to represent Italy in it.”

“We’re there because of the work we’ve done over the last five years to get where we are in the ranking.”

“We’re there with great merit,” said Marotta.

The Nerazzurri President called it “a new experience, fitting between the two seasons.”

“There will be some experience from everyone managing their energy,” Marotta predicted. “There’s a risk of the pressure of all the matches becoming too much.”

“Limited squads are not sufficient to cope with all the commitments,” said the Inter President.

“And that’s without forgetting the national team commitments as well.”

The Inter President argued that “the fixture list needs to be harmonized better.”

“For example, I’m absolutely in favour of reducing the league to eighteen teams.”

Marotta also made clear that in the title race, “there are no easy matches in Italy.”

“Even the provincial teams will cause problems for you,” the Inter President stressed.

“The head-to-head matches are important. But all the matches have a lot of difficulties – particularly the ‘easy’ ones.”

Marotta made clear that with Inter alive on three fronts “we have to find a way to be comfortable in three different competitions.”

“The Coppa Italia, the Champions League, and the League.”

“These add emotional tension for us compared to Napoli, a team who are just fighting for the Scudetto,” he argued.

Marotta Backs Inzaghi To Stay At Inter

MUNICH, GERMANY – APRIL 08: Simone Inzaghi, Head Coach of FC Internazionale, looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final First Leg match between FC Bayern München and FC Internazionale Milano at Fussball Arena Muenchen on April 08, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Beppe Marotta praised Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi.

“With Inzaghi, we had the luck in our favour to bring him in at the right time,” said the Nerazzurri President.

“When Conte left, there was not a lot available on the market. And it looked like he would sign a new deal with Lazio.”

Marotta said that Inzaghi “has improved over time.”

“Even today, he’s still one of the youngest football coaches around.”

“He has all the specific knowledge of the world of fotball,” Marotta said of Inzaghi. “Not just on a technical and tactical level, but also the man management side.”

And the Inter President also outlined his ambitions. “Generally, if you come in second, you’re thought to have failed,” he said.

“But that’s not always the case. You have to evaluate everything.”

“Right now we’re in the running on three fronts,” Marotta said.

“And from a financial point of view, we’ve earned a lot thanks to the Champions League.”

“Clearly, my ambition, and that of the club, is to keep aiming higher and higher,” said Marotta.

“We don’t want to be there just make up the numbers.”

The Inter President commented that “if other teams are better, we’ll bow to them.”

“But we believe that we can win the Champions League, the league, and the Coppa Italia.”

“Being where we are is already a great achievement,” he declared.