Inter CEO Beppe Marotta has urged his team to rise above officiating controversies and withstand the mounting pressure as the Serie A title race intensifies. Following a four-game winless streak across all competitions, Inter’s lead at the top of the table has shrunk to just six points from Milan and seven from Napoli.
With merely eight rounds remaining in the league, the title battle is poised for a tense conclusion. However, the club’s president remains calm.
Marotta Confident in Inter’s Title Chances
“It is a particular moment of the season where we are deservedly six points clear at the top of the table, a result that perhaps nobody could’ve predicted, especially as we are also in the Coppa Italia semi-final,” Marotta told reporters during a Lega Serie A meeting.
“I’d say we have achieved two of our three targets so far. We could’ve done better in the Champions League, but one mustn’t forget the opponents at this level are talented and sometimes underrated.”
After suffering a defeat in the Derby della Madonnina, Inter subsequently secured back-to-back 1-1 draws against Atalanta and Fiorentina.
“It is a difficult situation and we are taking some steps back, perhaps due to injuries or fatigue, but that’s inevitable for all teams at this stage of the season. I am not here to seek alibis, but to reaffirm that we’ll battle to the end,” Marotta added.
The Italian media has frequently used the term ‘psychodrama’ to describe the Nerazzurri’s struggles to secure the Scudetto, implying a fear of failure.
“This is definitely not a psychodrama, it is merely a difficult situation, the kind you often get in sport. It was unthinkable that we’d have a six-point advantage with eight rounds to go, it is always easier to be the hunter than the prey.
“We must face this moment of transition with the right attitude and rediscover the path we momentarily strayed from.”
In both the recent draws against Atalanta and Fiorentina, Inter had grievances regarding potential penalties that were not awarded.
“I read various pundits and experts who said the Marin Pongracic handling offence was a penalty,” Marotta insisted.
“We don’t want to act like victims here, we just want there to be uniformity in refereeing and evaluation, for the good of football as a whole.
“I generally believe that all clubs complain during the season, and overall errors balance each other out. I don’t want this to become an alibi, because this is sport and errors are always around the corner. We must be stronger than the refereeing errors.”
Inter has widely been considered one of the strongest squads in Italy for several years, yet they have only secured the Scudetto twice in that period. Marotta was asked if the fear of failure could resurface.
“I would hope not. I think the mental aspect is more important now for an athlete than it was in the past, because there is pressure, so the coach and modern player must be able to handle that,” Marotta concluded.
