Everyone Wanted to See Inter Milan Suffer After Champions League Final Defeat
Inter Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu believes many people wanted to see the Nerazzurri “suffer” after their humiliating defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the 2024/25 Champions League final.
Inter reached the Champions League final last season after an impressive European campaign, only to suffer a crushing 5-0 defeat against PSG in Munich. Despite the disappointment, Simone Inzaghi’s side responded by winning the Serie A title, providing some consolation after their European heartbreak.
Calhanoglu admits the heavy defeat created an expectation that Inter would struggle in its aftermath. However, the Turkey international believes the team’s strong mentality allowed them to recover from one of the darkest moments in their recent history.
“I think everyone wanted to see us suffer after such a heavy defeat in the final. But this team has a strong mentality. After going through a difficult moment, we were able to respond. Many of the players have always stayed together, and we know how to deal with these situations. That is what makes us different,” Calhanoglu said, as quoted by beIN Sports Australia.
Inter have since entered a new era under Cristian Chivu, who replaced Inzaghi as head coach. Calhanoglu admits there were initially some doubts about the Romanian, particularly because of his limited experience at the highest level of senior management.
Those concerns, however, were quickly eased as Chivu guided Inter to a domestic double last season. For Calhanoglu, the biggest difference between Chivu and his predecessor extends beyond tactics and the training ground.
The former AC Milan midfielder believes Chivu has created a different atmosphere within the squad by paying close attention to his players’ lives away from football.
“He has great tactical ability in training and during matches. But outside football, he is like a brother or a friend. You can talk to him about anything, and that has helped me a lot,” Calhanoglu explained.
Calhanoglu’s future has also attracted attention, with Galatasaray reportedly monitoring his situation. Despite the interest from his boyhood club, however, the midfielder remains focused on continuing his career with Inter and helping the club pursue new ambitions.
The 31-year-old wants Inter to maintain their dominance domestically while making another serious attempt to win the Champions League. The Nerazzurri have reached the final twice during Calhanoglu’s five-year spell at the club but have failed to lift the trophy on both occasions.
After experiencing the pain of those two defeats, Calhanoglu now hopes Inter can turn their European disappointment into motivation. With a new coach, a renewed sense of belief and a domestic double already secured, the Turkey international is determined to help the Nerazzurri take another step towards finally conquering Europe.
