Marotta warns Inter: 'No easy games' as Champions League struggles mount before Shakhtar

Inter must heed Champions League warnings, Marotta insists

Inter President Beppe Marotta has urged the Nerazzurri to "learn the lessons" of their opening Champions League defeats and warned that there are "no easy teams" left in European football as they prepare to host Shakhtar Donetsk at San Siro.

The Serie A giants lifted the domestic double last season, claiming both the Scudetto and the Coppa Italia, yet their recent Champions League form has been alarming. Inter have lost seven of their last eight matches in the competition — a striking reversal for a club that reached the final in both 2023 and 2025.

"No easy teams you can walk over anymore"

Speaking to Sky Sport Italia ahead of the Shakhtar clash, which kicks off at 20.00 UK time (21.00 CEST), Marotta insisted Inter cannot take any opponent lightly.

"We want the points too, but I feel that we need to point out the last 10 years as seen a cultural growth of the clubs who were second and third seeds in terms of performance and tactical organisation," Marotta told Sky Sport Italia. "They are well-prepared, and that is the difference from previous years. That is also true at international level, there are no easy teams you can walk over anymore like in the 1980s.

"Quality alone is not enough anymore, it must be accompanied by intensity, strength and a series of values."

Costly errors against Madrid and Brugge

Individual mistakes proved decisive in Inter's two Champions League defeats so far this term — the 2-1 loss to Real Madrid and the 4-3 home reverse against Club Brugge, a match in which the Nerazzurri conceded goals far too cheaply.

"Clearly, we must learn the lessons of the first two games. We struggled for much of the Club Brugge match, and this ought to show us how to approach a team that on paper is inferior, but can cause problems if underestimated," added Marotta.

Defensive crisis deepens

Marotta also addressed a mounting injury list that leaves Inter short of leadership at the back. Lautaro Martinez is set to miss several weeks, while Benjamin Pavard, Curtis Jones and John Stones are also on the treatment table.

When it was put to the Inter President that the side lacks a defensive leader to set the tempo, he replied: "I agree, this is certainly not an alibi, but we lost four players in that area and replacing them was by no means easy. Some had reached a certain age, while Denzel Dumfries went to Real Madrid. Having said that, I don't feel we should put all the blame on the defenders, as the rest of the team has to work to help out too."