For the fourteenth year in a row, there won't be an Italian winner of the Champions League. Tuesday night saw Napoli fall, and Wednesday night it was Internazionale's turn against Atlético Madrid, leaving Italy without representatives in the billion-dollar event. This fact dominates the Italian sports press on Thursday morning.
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The Italian football scene is reeling from a series of disappointing outcomes in the Champions League, marking a low point that hasn't been seen in years.
AC Milan's early exit in the group stage set a somber tone, which only deepened as other Italian teams fell one by one in the tournament. Lazio's defeat by Bayern Munich was a blow, followed by Napoli's loss to Barcelona, and most recently, Internazionale's elimination. Internazionale, who last won the Champions League in 2010, carried the hopes of a nation longing to see the trophy return to Italy. This hope has been dashed, underlining a period of struggle in European football for Italy that mirrors a previous drought from 1969 to 1985.
La Gazzetta dello Sport highlighted the significance of these failures for Italian football, noting the contrast with the previous year when Italy had three teams in the quarterfinals. This year, there are none, squashing any hopes of Italy reasserting itself as a dominant force in European football, even if only as "princes" rather than "kings." The elimination at the hands of Atlético Madrid was particularly unexpected and disappointing, as Internazionale was considered Italy's best hope for success in the Champions League.
The Corriere dello Sport offered a similar analysis, pointing out that while the Italian press was critical of the teams' collective performances, individual players were spared harsh criticism. This includes the three Dutch players—Davy Klaassen, Stefan de Vrij, and Denzel Dumfries—who were involved in key moments of the matches. Questions had been raised about Inter's strength, especially given their dominance in the Italian league, but their failure in the Champions League raised doubts about their actual standing in European football.
Internazionale's coach, Simone Inzaghi, expressed his disappointment but also pride in his team. Despite the setback in Europe, he focused on the remaining domestic league games, aiming to secure the league title. With a significant lead in the league, this goal appears to be within reach, offering a silver lining in an otherwise challenging season for Italian football.
