Inter Milan head into their Europa League semi-final with Shakhtar Donestk knowing victory will set up a final clash with Sevilla.
Following their impressive victories over Premier League sides Wolves and Manchester United, Julen Lopetegui’s Sevilla are aiming for another Europa League trophy to add to the three successive triumphs they enjoyed from 2014 to 2016.
The situation for Antonio Conte’s Inter is somewhat different, however. Despite their status as one of Italy’s footballing giants, this is a club whose fans have forgotten how it feels for their team to win silverware. If Inter can stretch their current unbeaten run from 10 games to 12, that will all change.
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Avoiding a Decade Without Silverware
Inter Milan are two wins away from a first trophy since 2011. The occasion that day was a Coppa Italia victory in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.
This means that defeat by either Shakhtar or Sevilla will stretch their trophy-less run to a decade of football.
On the other hand, victory in this season’s Europa League could act as a springboard to greater heights, and will have fans dreaming that the glory days of the 2010s – in which Inter won five successive league titles from 2006 onwards – could be repeated again one day.
After all, this Inter side look ready to compete again under Antonio Conte’s leadership. They finished only a point behind Serie A champions Juventus in the 2019/20 league campaign, and will aspire to leapfrog Andrea Pirlo’s side next season.
If Inter can find a way past their Ukrainian opponents tonight, and then defeat Europa League specialists Sevilla in the final, they will have the belief that a title run is possible.
Conte: Shakhtar the Best Side We Have Faced in Europe
Former-Chelsea boss Conte has ample respect for his side’s semi-final opponent.
“We have a lot of respect for Shakhtar. They have established themselves over the years. They are the strongest opponents we have faced so far on our Europa League path,” said the 51-year-old ahead of the tie.
“We want to show that there is a reason that we are in the semi-finals, and our aim is to reach the final,” added the former Italy manager.
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