How Inter ended Juventus domination
MILAN: Inter Milan won their first Serie A title in more than a decade as they ended Juventus’s grip on the league crown. Antonio Conte’s side become the team that finally wrested the Serie A title away from nine-time defending champions Juventus.
It was Inter’s first trophy since 2011 and the first league title since 2010, when they claimed the treble of the league, Champions League and Italian Cup. Inter were helped by early elimination from Europe meaning they could focus on the league. But in Serie A they also had the best defence and one of the best attacks and are unbeaten since January—a run of 18 matches.
The man who started Juve’s unprecedented era of dominance was the man who ended it—antonio Conte. He led Juventus
to the first three of their nine successive Serie A titles but ended that run in his second season in charge of Inter.
Inter were in disarray after a season of turmoil, with underperforming stars and dressingroom discord. But Conte shook things up and transformed the squad with his strict, no-nonsense attitude and attention to detail. In his first season in charge he led the Nerazzurri to the Europa League final, where they lost to Sevilla, and to within touching distance of the Serie A.
And the 51-year-old coach went one better this season. Inter forwards Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martínez have formed an impressive partnership—dubbed “Lula” by Italian media. Eyebrows were raised when Conte signed Lukaku from Man United in 2019 for around €80 million. However, under Conte’s tutelage, Lukaku has thrived and scored 34 goals in all competition last season—a personal best. “You can see the work that’s been done with Romelu,” Conte said recently. “I haven’t forgotten how so many people turned up their nose on his arrival. But right from the start I said he had arrived here with his potential and with hard work he could do something extraordinary. He has made exceptional progress and can do more.”
Lukaku has scored 27 goals so far this season and has set up many more for his teammates, including Martínez. The duo scored 55 goals last season and have netted 44 between them so far this campaign.
Having let in just 29 goals all season, Inter boast of the best defensive record in Serie A. Juve’s famed BBC defence of Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini was at the heart of the Bianconeri’s success. The Inter trio of Milan Škriniar, Stefan de Vrij and Alessandro Bastoni have done the same for the Nerazzurri.
There have been ongoing distractions amid reports that Suning can no longer afford to hold on to Inter.
Amid all that Conte has managed to keep his players’ focus firmly on the field and the team became the first to win Serie A under foreign ownership.