Marotta highlights key factor that held Inter back in Scudetto race against Napoli | OneFootball

Inter president Giuseppe Marotta believes the Nerazzurri must be ‘ambitious’ ahead of the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, insisting they are ‘up to the task’ despite facing one of football’s financial powerhouses.

The final in Munich, set for Saturday, represents Inter’s only chance to finish the season with silverware, after they were eliminated from the Coppa Italia by Milan and dropped crucial points in the final Serie A matchdays — allowing Napoli to clinch the title by a single point.

CAGLIARI, ITALY – DECEMBER 28: Giuseppe Marotta president of Inter looks on during the Serie A match between Cagliari and FC Internazionale at Sardegna Arena on December 28, 2024 in Cagliari, Italy. (Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images)

Speaking during Inter’s media day ahead of their second Champions League final in three years, Marotta praised the team, coach Simone Inzaghi, and the club as a whole for competing on all fronts. He also stressed that playing significantly more games than Napoli had a major impact on the Scudetto race.

Marotta congratulates Napoli on Scudetto, but Inter ‘played an extra 19 matches’

“It is a source of pride and satisfaction for us — the second time in recent years — and it’s the result of the hard work and sense of belonging shown by everyone at Inter,” Marotta told reporters.

“The main credit goes to our coach, but also to the team, the management, and the new ownership, which has come in with great intelligence. They’ve supported us in our operations with a constant, yet silent presence, never interfering.

“We started this season aiming to achieve something important and extraordinary — and we’ve done it. Reaching a second final in three years is something remarkable, and I believe almost unrepeatable.

“But we don’t want to overlook the other competitions: we reached the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia and narrowly missed out on the league title. Congratulations to Napoli — we were just a centimetre short, and that made all the difference. It’s a shame, but that’s sport: sometimes a centimetre determines the fate of one team over another.

“I’d also like to point out that compared to our rivals, we played an extra 19 matches — the equivalent of a full Serie A round.

“That means a huge expenditure of energy, and the psycho-physical aspect becomes crucial. Nevertheless, our coach led us to experience this thrilling moment. It’s my first time as president, and we got here by beating teams like Bayern Munich and Barcelona.”

MILAN, ITALY – MAY 06: Hakan Calhanoglu of FC Internazionale celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with teammates during 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)

Marotta went on to highlight Inter’s proud history ahead of their clash with PSG, stressing that the team must be ambitious — but never arrogant — in order to turn their dreams into reality.

“Inter have a rich history — this is our seventh European final — and we want to be protagonists,” Marotta added.

“In sport, one mustn’t be arrogant, but ambitious. Arrogance leads nowhere; ambition, instead, reflects a sense of belonging and a desire to win.

“We know we’re playing against a club of great stature and significant financial power. But we are up to the task, and we know we can be protagonists. The journey was full of obstacles, but we made it here on merit.

“I hope it will be a great game — a powerful showcase for Italian football, which needs it. I hope it will be a beautiful evening, and that we can crown it with something extraordinary, to bring joy to ourselves, the club, and the fans who have always stood by us.”