Simone Inzaghi is trying to put Inter Milan’s rocky recent European past behind him as his side prepare for the visit of Real Madrid and an attempt to finally make it to the Champions league knockouts. A long, hot summer at the Italian champions seems to be cooling down now that the new season has got underway, as memories of the departed stars Romelu Lukaku, Achraf Hakimi and Antonio Conte — as well as the financial problems that led to their exits — are shunted aside in face of a new-look Nerazzurri side which has started the campaign well.
Seven points from the first three matches of the season is not a bad haul for new coach Inzaghi, although after missing a host of chances in Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Sampdoria the former Lazio boss will be wondering why it isn’t a perfect nine.
And after a promising opening few weeks domestically he now he has the chance to go one better than his more illustrious predecessor Conte did in his two years in charge at the San Siro and make it past the group stage.
“I’m not thinking about last season because it’s since 2010 (2011, Ed) that Inter haven’t get into the last 16. That’s not last season, it’s the last 10 years,” Inzaghi told reporters on Tuesday.
“That’s a statistic that we want to change at all costs.”