Marotta Backs Inter to Emulate PSG's Champions League Comeback as Bologna Test Looms

Marotta Points to PSG Precedent After Brugge Blow

Inter President Beppe Marotta has urged patience and perspective after a bruising start to the Nerazzurri's Champions League campaign, pointing to Paris Saint-Germain as proof that a bad beginning need not be fatal.

Speaking to DAZN Italia ahead of Inter's Serie A fixture at Bologna, Marotta acknowledged that the standard of opposition across Europe has risen sharply. "Those clubs who until recently were in the third or fourth tier of the Champions League have improved their football culture, which means they are more organised, well-prepared, and consequently they are no pushovers," he said.

Marotta referenced the French champions' recent turnaround as a template for his own club. "If you look at the statistics, last season Paris Saint-Germain lost the first three games, recovered to get into the play-offs, and went on to win the trophy. Clearly, we need to learn from these two defeats, analyse what went wrong, and try to improve going forward."

Inter's latest setback was a shock 4-3 home defeat to Club Brugge, leaving the club with two losses from their opening Champions League matches, a record made more painful by last season's early exit in the play-offs to Bodo/Glimt. Prior coverage dated 2026-10-14 reported that Inter had suffered a club-record fourth straight Champions League defeat after being beaten 5-0 by Paris Saint-Germain, with coach Cristian Chivu admitting the form was "worrying."

A Traumatic Few Days for the Nerazzurri

Marotta's comments come during what has been described as a traumatic spell for Inter, who not only crashed to the Brugge defeat but also lost captain Lautaro Martinez for a month with a thigh strain. Defender Benjamin Pavard has joined Curtis Jones and John Stones on the treatment table, forcing changes for a traditionally difficult fixture at the Stadio Dall'Ara.

Inter head to Bologna sitting joint top of the Serie A table with Lazio, though the Champions League record remains a significant concern. The Dall'Ara has historically been an unhappy hunting ground, with Inter winning only one of their last five trips there — including results that cost them the Scudetto.

Backing for Goalkeeper and Coach

Goalkeeper Josep Martinez came in for further criticism after the Club Brugge defeat, prompting questions over whether the problems run deeper than the man between the posts and stem instead from the defence failing to protect him.

Marotta deflected the tactical question toward the coaching staff. "This question is for the coach, who has the duty and responsibility of setting out the team, but we have always shown full faith in our players and Cristian Chivu evaluates the players up close throughout the week, so knows better than us all what form they are in," he said.

He added that responsibility for improvement is shared across the club. "A club must also push players to give their best, there is always margin for improvement, and we absolutely must do better."

'Inter Are in Good Hands' Under Oaktree

Amid reports that some Qatari investors are eager to get involved with Inter and their patrons Oaktree, Marotta offered a firm endorsement of the current ownership. "I run the club, this is not part of my purview, but I can say Oaktree have shown with action and words that Inter are in good hands. They invested in the training ground and the stadium, we are in solid hands," he said.

"I don't know what decision they will make, but they do make decisions for the best of Inter, considering the past, present and future of this club."

Inter's trip to Bologna kicks off at the Stadio Dall'Ara at 17.00 UK time (18.00 CEST), with the Nerazzurri desperate to steady a campaign that has already wobbled on the European stage.