Inter Milan President Hits Out Ahead Of Serie A Clash Vs Juventus: ‘We’re The Champions Of Italy & So Everyone Wants To Beat Us’ | OneFootball

Beppe Marotta feels that it’s natural that with Inter Milan being champions of Italy, they have a target on their backs.

The Nerazzurri President spoke to DAZN ahead of today’s Derby d’Italia clash with Juventus, via FCInterNews. He spoke about a “culture of jealousy” in Italian football.

In recent weeks, Inter have been at the centre of something of a media firestorm.

This has concerned refereeing decisions above all.

Inter coach Simone Inzaghi has hit out at the perceived double standard after the scrutiny of certain decisions in last Monday’s Serie A win over Fiorentina.

But it seems to go deeper than that. There have been a number of refereeing flashpoints involving Inter in recent weeks.

And the issue is not only of refereeing. Inter are feeling more and more pressure, with the expectation that they are the favourites to retain their Serie A title.

That is perhaps to be expected. Inter didn’t just win the title last season – they did so by a margin of nearly twenty points. And they kept last season’s squad together.

Beppe Marotta: “Inter Milan Champions Of Italy, So Everyone Wants To Beat Us”

Inter President Beppe Marotta said that he agrees with Nerazzurri captain Lautaro Martinez that today’s clash with Juventus is “important but not decisive.”

“Beyond the scoreline, the performance we put in will be an important sign,” he said.

Inter Milan chief executive Giuseppe Marotta poses during a photocall prior the Italian Footballers’ Association (AIC) Awards ceremony 2023 on December 04, 2023 in Milan. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP) (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images)

“If it’s good, then we hope that we can crown it with a win. But in my view, this is still an intermediate stage of the season.”

“People often say the head-to-head matches are decisive for the Scudetto,” noted the Inter President.

“But slip-ups can also happen against the teams further back in the table. We have to take care to avoid those pitfalls.”

“It’s the Derby d’Italia,” he added. “We’re ready to face it the right way.”

Inter President Marotta admitted that “When you’re at a big club, the pressure increases.”

“Then, in Italy we have a culture of jealousy,” he continued.

“We know that we’re champions of Italy. So everyone’s trying to beat us.”

“We have to be stronger than all these things,” Marotta emphasized rising above the pressure and controversy.

“Inzaghi is great at that. And he has more adrenaline than I do, but I’d say that it’s part of how all of us are growing.”

“We have an awareness that we’re fighting to go all the way in all the competitions we participate in.”

Inter Milan President Beppe Marotta – Spent Eight Great Years At Juventus

Lastly, Marotta looked back on his time at today’s opponents the Bianconeri. “I spent eight beautiful years at Juventus,” he said.

“Which I crowned with a lot of success.

“That experience helped me to arrive here at Milan, and make an impact with my ideas.”

“Now I’m very happy to be here at Inter,” said Marotta.

“We’ve gotten to great results, and I believe all my past experiences have served me to grow and become wiser.”

“That’s the wisdom that I carry with me from my past experiences with other teams. Everything from my past creates experience, and from that comes wisdom.”