Inter Milan are reigning Serie A champions and despite recent media attacks the Nerazzurri are a Scudetto contenders this season too.
The Nerazzurri are poised to challenge expectations and excel in both domestic and European competitions.
In football, as in journalism, a week can feel like a lifetime. The slow start of Inter Milan this season, marked by a disappointing draw in their opening match, provided a great opportunity for the usual critics and naysayers.
The media, ever hungry for drama, took the opportunity and leveraged the Nerazzurri’s apparent kick off failure.
This is, unfortunately, a familiar narrative for Inter Milan, a club often mistreated by the Italian mainstream media.
Yet, the squad’s swift recovery, with two convincing victories, underscores the weak points of these criticisms.
Notably, the spotlight that initially focused on Inter’s early shortcoming, now shifts to the impressive performances of Marcus Thuram.
Who has emerged as the team’s and the Serie A leading scorer with four goals, outshining Lautaro Martinez so far.
This shift in focus highlights a key point: Inter Milan’s strength lies not just in individual talent but in their collective skills and adaptability.
Inter Milan Are Scudetto Contenders & Deserve More Respect
Despite this positive trend shift, the pessimism among the critics persists.
According to the latest sports betting trackers, Inter Milan’s odds of winning the Scudetto have dropped significantly.
With their chances now at -170. In contrast, Juventus’s odds, (who have the same points as Inter), have surged to +275.
These figures, derived from a range of trusted online sportsbooks, reflect a growing skepticism about Inter’s title prospects.
The point is, not only is the data wrong, but that negative sentiments sell. As described in the great book, The Power of Bad, negative news sells.
And an article with a negative title gets red 7 times more readers than one with a positive one. Hence, Inter Milan’s shortcoming sell. And they sell a lot, particularly when you are the defending champion.
It’s easier to celebrate a team’s early struggles than to acknowledge their potential for recovery. Inter Milan’s setbacks are more interesting to the media than their victories, feeding a narrative of perennial underachievement.
This approach does a disservice to the sport’s fans in general, as it overshadows the club’s true progress and strengths.
Let’s be clear though, despite the media’s negative forecast, Inter Milan remains a top-tier team with a squad packed with talent, versatility and humility.
From Barella To Lautaro & Thuram – Inter Milan Spoilt For World Class Talent
The likes of Lautaro Martinez, Federico Dimarco, the aforementioned Thuram, and Nicolo Barella form a formidable lineup.
One that is more than capable to take on the best in Europe. Their recent performances underline this potential.
Recent results and performances prove that the team’s early-season hiccup do not define their comprehensive capabilities.
Moreover, the club’s recent ownership change to Oaktree Capital is set to bring a new era of discipline and efficiency.
The financial stability and strategic focus introduced by the new owners are likely to enhance Inter’s performance on both domestic and European fronts.
This transition could be pivotal in overcoming the club’s historical challenges and achieving long-term success.
The humble, hardworking attitude of Inter Milan is often overshadowed by the media’s tendency to focus on negatives.
However, this very work ethic is what will take Inter to new results and titles.
As Inter Milan are Scudetto contenders, whilst also taking on European challenges, it’s time for the critics to take a step back and allow the team’s actions to speak louder than their past shortcomings.
By: Andrea Zanon
Andrea Zanon is the co-founder of Confidente. He is an international advisor who has worked for financial institutions and entrepreneurs on sustainability, international affairs and development.
