Inter Milan – A Machine Built To Win The Champions League | OneFootball

There are teams that play to win, and then there are teams that fight to survive while Inter Milan, on the brink of Champions League glory, represents something rare in modern football: a club forged in fire, disciplined by defeat, and now more dangerous than ever.

This is not a club that relies on one hero. This is a collective of 18 goal-scorers in the Italian league alone, a signal that Inter doesn’t just have a striker. It has a military battalion.

21 different players have put their name on the scoresheet in all compeititons. That’s not depth; that’s tactical terror.

You don’t know where the threat is coming from. One day it’s Nicolo Barella from midfield, another it’s Dimarco overlapping from the flank.

And leading the charge? Lautaro Martínez, the Argentine captain who many argue deserves this year’s Ballon d’Or.

It was Lautaro, hobbling but defiant, who unlocked Barcelona with a goal and assist, in a performance not of flair, but of iron will.

And that’s the point: Inter doesn’t just win. They endure. They adapt. And they rise.

Inter Milan Goalscoring Hunger In Serie A & The Champions League

LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 31: A detailed view of the UEFA Champions League trophy is seen on a plinth prior to the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 final match between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid CF at Wembley Stadium on May 31, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

How hungry is Inter? Here’s the data:

And yet, Inter still plays like a cornered animal. Why? Because this club has lived chaos. It survived the collapse of Chinese ownership.

It’s navigating the icy stewardship of Oaktree Capital, a U.S. investment fund accused of prioritizing efficiency over big players acquisitions.

And who knows what’s next? Perhaps a Saudi consortium. Reports suggest the Saudi PIF, with an estimated $1 trillion in assets, continues to be interested in the club.

This follows rumors of a potential sale if Inter’s can fetch between $2.2 billion and $2.3 billion, according to journalist Marco Bellinazzo.

But through it all, the locker room has never broken down.

That’s the true miracle: a team with shifting ownership, financial limitations, and press resistance, that still fights as one and wins even when they lose.

Simone Inzaghi: The General & Not A Rockstar

MILAN, ITALY – MAY 06: Simone Inzaghi, Head Coach of FC Internazionale, celebrates with his son Lorenzo Inzaghi after his team’s 4-3 victory in the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final Second Leg match between FC Internazionale Milano and FC Barcelona at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 06, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

While others buy coaches for the spotlight, Inter stuck with Simone Inzaghi. Critics doubted him.

Many called for his dismissal. But quietly, methodically, he built something stronger than charisma: a tactical machine.

Inzaghi’s Inter is built to absorb, adapt, and ambush. His substitutions? Lethal. His transitions? Swift.

His mentality? Underdog obsession. This is a manager who studies the enemy, not just the ball. A man who understands that finals aren’t won on flair—they’re won on clarity.

The Lesson From 2023: Never Wait

In 2023, Inter lost the final to Manchester City, but not because they were outclassed. Because they waited.

For 75 minutes, they respected the opponent too much. Then, when they finally attacked, they rattled the best team in the world.

That lesson is burned into the DNA of this squad. This time, Inter won’t wait. This time, Inter will strike first.

Bookmakers’ Odds: The Underdog Narrative

Despite their formidable journey, bookmakers have positioned PSG as the favorites for the final. PSG’s odds stand at 6/10 (1.60), while Inter’s are at 13/10 (2.30).

This underdog status aligns with Inter’s narrative a team underestimated yet unyielding.

Financial Fortitude: Beyond The Football Pitch

MILAN, ITALY – MAY 22: (L-R) CEO Corporate FC Internazionale Alessandro Antonello, Oaktree’s Global Opportunities strategy Managing Director Katherine Ralph, Managing Director and Co-Head of Europe for Oaktree’s Global Opportunities strategy Alejandro Cano, CEO Sport FC Internazionale Giuseppe Marotta attend a meeting between FC Internazionale new owners Oaktree and Club’s Management on May 22, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Guido De Bortoli/Getty Images)

A Champions League title brings more than prestige for Inter Milan. It brings an estimated €100 million in earnings, between prize money, commercial deals, and increased ticketing power.

Inter Milan has already seen their revenues from the Champions League reach €133 million ahead of the final against PSG.

This figure encompasses earnings from UEFA prize money, market pool shares, and matchday revenues.

Notably, gate receipts from high-profile matches at San Siro, such as those against Bayern Munich and Barcelona, contributed approximately €25 million to this total.

Furthermore, if Inter clinches the Champions League title, they stand to earn an additional €10.5 million in prize money, potentially bringing their total earnings to €144.5 million for the season.

This substantial financial windfall not only underscores Inter’s on-field success but also positions the club favorably for future investments and growth.

With a valuation now potentially touching $2.3 billion, Inter is emerging as a top contender not just on the field but in the global football market.

Resilience Under Pressure: Inter’s Defining Trait

MILAN, ITALY – MAY 06: Lautaro Martinez and Matteo Darmian of FC Internazionale celebrate after their team’s 4-3 victory in the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final Second Leg match between FC Internazionale Milano and FC Barcelona at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 06, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

One qualitative aspect that sets Inter apart is their exceptional composure under pressure.

The team rarely panics; instead, adversity seems to galvanize them.

A prime example is their recent semi-final against Barcelona where Inter was up 2-0 and who was down 2-3 until the minute 93.

Facing a team that had scored 43 goals in the Champions League and was led by the prodigious Lamine Yamal, Inter showcased their unrelenting resilience.

Despite the odds, they managed a dramatic comeback, with journeyman hero Francesco Acerbi scoring a crucial goal to force extra time.

This performance highlighted Inter’s ability to remain composed and deliver their best when it matters most.

The Final Message

MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 27: Lautaro Martinez and Nicolo Barella of FC Internazionale are pictured talking prior to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and AS Roma at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 27, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

This team is not fueled by stars. It’s fueled by limitless ambition and persistence. It is a machine of 18 weapons, a tactician at the helm, and a trauma-forged identity.

It does also help to have a goalkeeper like Sommer, who stops everything. So let the world call them underdogs again.

Because when a club survives ownership collapse, media bias, and tactical disrespect, and still stands on the edge of “winner takes all,” it doesn’t need permission. It takes contro

By: Andrea Zanon