According to popular opinion, Inter came to the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul with the sign of the least favorite team to win the Champions League. But “with head and heart” -the mantra of the ‘Nerazzurri’ this season- and a perfect plan, Inzaghi will make the miracle. Lukaku’s misfortune, cursed this year in Belgium and at Inter, has kept him from the European dream.
Inter’s performance was a worthy finalist for the ‘Champions’. Little more could be asked of this squad and of Inzaghi, a tandem that in 68 minutes eclipsed the most feared team in the world and dreamed of their fourth ‘orejona’.
To achieve this, Inzaghi devised a plan. He didn’t want to lock himself in to avoid prolonging the game and adapted his system to Guardiola’s. He pressed the man, with Barella and Calhanoglu alternating to complicate the construction of three central defenders and Darmian and Bastoni did not separate from De Bruyne and Gundogan, leaving Acerbi in one-on-one with Haaland.
Inzaghi already warned in a press conference: “We have something prepared for Haaland.” The plan was Acerbi, and it worked for him. While the other part also worked for him. His team just lacked a bit of clarity in the final meters and a bit of luck.
Because to beat Manchester City, a team crusher this season, it took more than the perfect plan. You have to be impeccable, up and down. And Inter, when they had somewhat controlled City, were guilty of two actions almost in a row and, as always happens with this team, they were punished with the most painful blow.
Lautaro could go back instead of trying to outplay Ederson as Akanji gets overconfident. Bastoni might have waited a bit to get under pressure before going to Akanji. The coin can also fall from the other side and rejection does not fall lightly on Rodri. But then everything happened. City’s goal seemed to end the game, but Inter never stopped believing and enjoyed their chances.
And out of nowhere, like ‘deja-vu’, for Lukaku Turkey became Qatar. The Belgian striker starred in the final minutes of the Croatia-Belgium game on the final day of the World Cup group stage as he missed three clear chances that left his side out of the round of 16.
In Istanbul, in his chance to recover, he reappeared in the picture with two images that will remain in the interista imagination for life. First with a shot from Dimarco that, directly at the goal, without a goalkeeper, collided with his body. Later, with a point-blank shot from the center of the small area that was too focused. Two chances that left Inter with honey on their lips. Two moments that prevented the ‘Nerazzurri’ plan to have a prize and they took him away from victory.
Inter came to Istanbul with a plan, executed it well and lost. He could not get his own witness from 2010 to return Italy to the top with ‘orejona’. It was in Lukaku’s hands, but just like in Qatar, he missed the most important moment.
Source: La Verdad

I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.