Marotta: ‘Inter need encouragement, aim to go all the way’ in 2024-25

Inter President Beppe Marotta assures the squad needs ‘encouragement’ ahead of tonight’s game with Genoa and they must ‘aim to go all the way in every tournament.’

It kicks off at San Siro at 19.45 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s four Serie A games on the Liveblog.

This has been a difficult week for the Nerazzurri, as they went from the opportunity to take the top spot to falling two points behind with a defeat to Juventus in the Derby d’Italia.

They also lost goalkeeper Yann Sommer for three weeks to a fractured thumb, so Josep Martinez makes his debut against his Genoa former teammates.

There was a summit at the training ground including President Marotta, so what was said?

“We are coming off an undeserved defeat and it was only right for us to meet up and help keep the group united, because from the status of my role I can give them further encouragement,” Marotta told DAZN.

“I just encouraged them, then we have daily discussions with the coach and nothing has changed there.”

Marotta has faith in Inter this season

There is a massive week coming up, as they face Lazio in the Coppa Italia quarter-final on Tuesday, then go into the Scudetto showdown with Napoli on Saturday.

After that, the Champions League Round of 16 first leg trip to Feyenoord on March 5.

“The mentality remains the same, we are Inter and we must participate in every tournament aiming to go all the way,” noted Marotta.

“There are difficulties in having seven games in 20 days, so we hope that there will be no further injuries. We must challenge for everything, then if the other teams do better, we applaud and tip our hats to them.”

Inter have managed to balance the books in recent years by working months in advance to secure free agents, so are they doing the same for 2025-26?

“We work constantly on the scouting network and looking around for opportunities, finding players who suit our model for next season.”