Giancarlo Inzaghi, father of Inter Milan boss Simone, recounted the phone call he received from Romelu Lukaku. Inzaghi Sr told Gazzetta dello Sport that his son had tried to convince the Belgium striker to stay, but it was too late. Lukaku had decided to go back to Chelsea, much to the disappointment of coach Inzaghi. He felt like he had lost three players in one fell swoop.
Fast forward to April this year and Inter were sixth in the table, rather than challenging at the top after their star striker returned on loan. Lukaku had scored only three league goals, two of which were from the penalty spot, and rumours circulated about a rift between him and Inzaghi. Inter were in crisis.
When CEO Beppe Marotta arrived in December 2018, he was tasked with returning Inter to former heights. He developed a long-term project that started in the dressing room, removing all toxicity and replacing it with a winning mentality. Antonio Conte was brought in and succeeded in breaking Juventus’ hegemony by winning the Scudetto.
Marotta sought peace and stability at the top when Conte left and found it in Inzaghi, who was Paratici’s childhood best friend. He was the ‘normal one’, lacking the flair for theatrics, but he was the right character for the job.
Marotta followed Inzaghi’s progress at Lazio and when Inter began losing and the vultures were circling, he shifted the focus from fighting to enjoying football. He instructed his players to think of nothing but how they could help their team-mate and a healthy and happy atmosphere was restored.
Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez became unstoppable and Inter began winning again, bulldozing Lazio and comprehensively defeating Empoli. Inzaghi had flipped the script and his job was no longer on the line.
Inter have since won two trophies and are now fighting for a third, preparing for Saturday’s Champions League final against Manchester City. They may never possess the quality of Manchester City, but they have proved they can thrive in the big moments. Inzaghi has only ever lost one final, his first. Since then, he has won seven – a man for the big occasion. Can he do it again?