Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella feels that the Nerazzurri can win the Champions League while he’s at the club.
Fans with Champions League final tickets will remember a classic showdown in 2010 when Inter Milan defeated Bayern Munich to win their last European silverware. Barella's words have sparked debate across the footballing world. Most fans with Inter Milan tickets strongly agree with this view, as the side will have a better opportunity this time with the new format.
The 27-year-old spoke to Italian broadcaster DAZN via FCInterNews. He named winning Europe’s top club competition one of his greatest dreams at Inter. The Nerazzurri lost to Bayer Leverkusen after conceding a stoppage-time goal, their first in the competition this campaign.
Otherwise, though, Inter have done well in Europe so far. That has been in keeping with the pattern. Inter has slowly re-established itself as a force on the continent after several seasons away from the Champions League. Midfielder Barella arrived at Inter from Cagliari in 2019. In his first season at the club, the Nerazzurri failed to reach the Champions League knockouts.
However, Inter dropped down to the Europa League, where they reached the finals. After a disappointing second season from a European perspective, Barella has helped Inter reach the knockout rounds in the Champions League in every subsequent campaign. In the 2022-23 season, Inter got their Champions League final tickets. And this time, the Nerazzurri look to be in a strong position again.
Nicolo Barella Backs Inter Milan To Win The Champions League
As far as his biggest dreams at Inter are concerned, Barella said, “On a sporting level, I’d say the Champions League.”
“Particularly after we lost in the final already. That’s the dream for me,” Barella said. “After we already got that far. A lot of the players have changed. But the focus has remained the same as ever.” “It shouldn’t distract us from the league,” Barella noted. “Which is still very important for us. There are a lot of teams who have won the league, the domestic cup, and the Champions League,” the 27-year-old continued.
“We have every chance of winning it,” Barella said of the Champions League. “And we’ll try for it. I’d like to be remembered for doing something for this club,” the Italian international said.
Meanwhile, Barella – who signed a long-term contract extension this summer – addressed his future at Inter.
“Anything can happen in football,” the 27-year-old admitted. “But I’ve always made my desire to stay at Inter clear. I see a serious project here,” Barella continued. “And the possibility of doing something great.”
“I’ve never given anyone the impression that I want to leave. I don’t know what offers there have been because there’s never been a discussion with my agent. I hope the club is happy with me,” Barella said. “The facts have shown that they are. I can only thank them. And I hope that I can do even better.” Barella On Conte & Inzaghi At Inter Barella has played under two different coaches at Inter. Antonio Conte – now at Napoli – and the team’s current long-term coach, Simone Inzaghi.
The former Cagliari midfielder called Conte “one of the best coaches in the world.”
“I started my journey here with him,” he noted. “And he laid the foundations.” Barella also praised his current coach, Inzaghi. “He’s played his part,” said the Italian international. “He’s made some improvements.” Inzaghi has “added something that’s become a part of us. Now we’ve found the perfect balance.”
Barella noted that Inzaghi “came here from Lazio, where he’d already done some great things.” “But Inter was a step up. He’s shown that making that step up has helped him, as it helped me.”
“We’ll try to win things together again because of how he makes us feel,” Barella said of his coach. “We’ll try and give him some gifts.”
Top Clubs To Lose On Direct Qualification
With two rounds to go in the inaugural Champions League phase, Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Paris Saint-Germain are in genuine jeopardy.
Teams must finish in the top eight to achieve automatic qualification into the round of 16. Those in ninth to 24th place enter a round of two-legged play-offs in February, with the winners taking the other eight spots. As it stands, three heavyweights of European football are in danger. Paris Saint-Germain is facing full elimination and sits 25th despite a much-needed win at Red Bull Salzburg this week.
Manchester City is also struggling. Pep Guardiola's side is 22nd, far away from a coveted top-eight spot. Real Madrid is faring better in the 20th. They picked up their first win in three by edging past Atalanta on Tuesday.
Upcoming Crucial Champions League Fixtures
January 22: PSG vs Man City, Real Madrid vs Red Bull Salzburg January 29: Brest vs Real Madrid, Man City vs Club Brugge, Stuttgart vs PSG
Liverpool Secure Qualification
Liverpool all but qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League after Mohamed Salah's VAR-awarded penalty secured a narrow 1-0 win over Girona at the Municipal de Montilivi.
The result means that for only the second time in the club's history, Liverpool have won their opening six matches of a European campaign. In Liverpool's last outing against Newcastle, Arne Slot's side failed to win for only the third time in 21 matches under the Dutchman.
Fans from Anfield are already eyeing their Champions League final tickets, looking at how the team has performed in Europe. Hey arrived in Girona knowing another win would move them closer to securing a place in the last-16 draw as one of the seeded teams. They cemented their position at the top of the standings after Donny van de Beek was penalised for a foul on Luis Diaz inside the box, but only after VAR intervened.
Salah kept his composure to convert his spot-kick past Paulo Gazzaniga to keep Liverpool perfect. The Egypt international became the 11th man to reach 50 Champions League goals, overtaking Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Kylian Mbappe. Thierry Henry (51) and Thomas Muller (54) are now in his sights.
Champions League final tickets will be available soon.