Inter crisis deepens after Club World Cup flop

Inter crisis has snowballed in the past two months, turning a season that once promised a historic treble into a nerve-shredding fight to keep the campaign alive. A dramatic 4-3 extra-time win over Barcelona in early December seemed to confirm the Nerazzurri’s rise among Europe’s elite, yet that night now feels like a distant memory amid a catalogue of embarrassments, angry confrontations and tactical confusion.

Inter crisis: From treble dreams to turmoil

At the halfway stage of the autumn schedule, Simone Inzaghi’s men topped Serie A, sat in the Champions League last-16 draw, and eyed the FIFA Club World Cup as an extra piece of silverware. The dressing room was buoyant, Lautaro Martínez couldn’t stop scoring, and the midfield trio of Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Nicolò Barella and Davide Frattesi looked unstoppable. Supporters talked openly about matching José Mourinho’s 2010 treble. Today that talk has vanished, replaced by questions over leadership, mentality and even basic fitness.

Club World Cup humiliation sparks alarm

The first major blow landed in Saudi Arabia, where Al-Ahly punished sluggish defending and toothless finishing to knock Inter out at the semi-final stage. The 2-0 defeat was labeled “the most shameful night of my presidency” by club chairman Steven Zhang, who flew straight to Milan for emergency meetings. Social media erupted, and local papers splashed the words “Vergogna Nerazzurra” (“Inter Shame”) across their front pages. The Inter crisis tag trended worldwide within minutes of the final whistle.

What hurt most was the manner of the collapse. Inzaghi fielded a near-full-strength XI, yet the European giants were out-run, out-fought and, for long spells, out-thought. Television cameras caught a furious Martínez barking at team-mates, while veterans Francesco Acerbi and Stefan de Vrij exchanged heated words as they trudged toward the tunnel. Goalkeeper Yann Sommer later admitted the squad “lost our heads” after conceding the opener, an indictment for a side built on tactical discipline.

Fractured dressing room and leadership questions

Back in Appiano Gentile, tension boiled over the following morning when a normally routine recovery session turned into a shouting match. Club insiders say Çalhanoğlu criticised the intensity of training, Barella fired back about “lazy tracking”, and Acerbi publicly questioned Inzaghi’s substitutions. Sporting director Piero Ausilio was forced to intervene, ordering an immediate clear-the-air meeting to prevent further leaks. Yet within hours, Italian outlets Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere dello Sport ran detailed accounts of the bust-up, proof that unity has cracked.

The Inter crisis narrative widened when assistant coach Massimiliano Farris hinted that certain stars are “choosing games” in order to save themselves for individual targets. Former Primavera boss Cristian Chivu, now tasked with bridging gaps between academy and first team, has reportedly been asked to refresh training methodologies and re-emphasise club values.

On-field tactics lost amid off-field tension

Inzaghi’s trademark 3-5-2, once praised for its fluidity, now looks sluggish. Full-backs Denzel Dumfries and Federico Dimarco are providing fewer overlaps because they are required to defend deeper, while Çalhanoğlu’s switch to a deeper regista role has reduced his creative influence. Opponents have learned to clog central lanes, force turnovers and hit direct balls behind the high line—exactly how Sassuolo and Torino collected surprise league wins in January.

Statistics illustrate the malaise. Inter averaged 2.3 goals per match before the World Cup trip; since returning, that figure has dropped to 1.1. Expected Goals Against has risen by 45%, and the side ranks 12th in Serie A for distance covered over the last five fixtures. Former captain Javier Zanetti warned on Sky Italia, “Effort must be non-negotiable. Talent alone is useless without sacrifice.”

Can Simone Inzaghi stop the slide?

Club power brokers have publicly backed the coach—for now. Inzaghi retains credit for delivering two Coppa Italia titles and masterminding last season’s Champions League final run, but patience is thinning. A run of three league matches against Roma, Juventus and Milan will likely decide his future. Fail to secure at least six points and Inter could cut ties before the Champions League quarter-finals.

Sources close to the dressing room say Inzaghi has doubled tactical sessions, focusing on restoring pressing triggers and rehearsing set-piece patterns. Strength coach Santiago Bordon is revising recovery protocols after players privately complained of fatigue. Meanwhile, sporting director Ausilio has fast-tracked talks with Atalanta over a January move for defender Giorgio Scalvini, hoping fresh legs and youthful energy can jolt the squad.

Financial stakes add extra pressure

Beyond pride, the Inter crisis carries heavy economic consequences. Missing out on Champions League qualification would cost an estimated €80 million in broadcast and prize revenue, while early exits shrink sponsorship bonuses. With €415 million in debt and looming refinancing deadlines, Zhang cannot afford an extended slump. Rumours of a minority stake sale to a U.S. fund have resurfaced; potential investors want assurances that the sporting project remains competitive.

The road ahead

In the short term, senior players have pledged to lead by example. Martínez, handed the armband full-time this season, arranged a team-only dinner at a discreet restaurant near Porta Nuova, echoing the famous 2010 “pact of Madrid” dinner organised by Diego Milito. Whether symbolic gestures translate into consistency on the pitch remains to be seen.

Inter supporters, meanwhile, plan a choreographed display against Roma featuring the words “Uniti Nella Tempesta” (“United in the Storm”). Curva Nord leaders insist criticism does not equal abandonment, but banners calling for “orgoglio” (pride) will stay until performances improve. A packed San Siro will offer its verdict match-by-match.

Opinion: a turning point or the start of decline?

Every elite club faces turbulence, yet the velocity of this Inter crisis is alarming. The talent remains—Martínez, Barella, Çalhanoğlu, Alessandro Bastoni are all among Europe’s best in their roles—but championship runs are built on collective conviction. If Inzaghi can re-ignite pressing intensity and repair fractured relationships, the Nerazzurri still possess enough quality to salvage a double of Serie A and Coppa Italia. Fail, and this winter may be remembered as the moment a golden era slipped away.