San Siro silence: Inter Milan’s European reality check

Fcinter1908 reflects on Inter Milan’s painful Champions League exit against Bodø/Glimt and the lessons it leaves behind

The fall was loud. The kind that echoes long after the final whistle fades. Inter Milan’s elimination from the Champions League at the hands of Bodø/Glimt leaves behind more than disappointment. It leaves questions.

According to the analysis by Fcinter1908.it, Inter Milan had the tools to honor the double confrontation with greater authority and push harder toward the Round of 16. Given the club’s restored international stature, progressing felt less like a dream and more like a duty.

For Cristian Chivu, it was a first real examination on Europe’s main stage as head coach. He could have written a sweeter opening chapter. Still, the label of debutant softens the verdict slightly. Inter Milan’s recent European consistency has been more exception than established rule, and perspective matters.

At San Siro, Chivu attempted to tilt the rhythm. The inclusion of Davide Frattesi from the first minute was a declaration of intent, a shift toward aggression compared to the first leg. 

It contradicted the cautious tone voiced before kickoff. The message was clear: strike early, unsettle the Norwegians, rewrite the script.

Chances came. Precision did not

This time, Inter Milan faltered primarily in the mind. Anxiety seeped into possession. As the minutes slipped away, composure dissolved. The team unconsciously drifted into the tactical web spun by Bodø/Glimt, who punished ruthlessly when space appeared.

Absences weighed heavily. Lautaro Martínez, Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Denzel Dumfries were missing key minutes, though Dumfries did return late after a long injury spell. Their absence explains part of the void but does not excuse the collapse. Leadership and personality, especially from the first two, might have steadied the pulse.

More concerning was the underperformance of those tasked with compensating. Marcus Thuram and Nicolò Barella delivered displays far below last season’s European standards. 

They were expected to drag Inter Milan forward. Instead, they seemed consumed by urgency. The reflection on their form, particularly in Thuram’s case, remains open and necessary.

Derby ahead, no time for self-pity

With Lautaro sidelined for several more weeks and a derby looming, Inter Milan must shift gears immediately. The setback disappoints, certainly, but it does not justify melodrama.

The real test now unfolds elsewhere. Inter Milan must prove they can shoulder responsibility across domestic fronts, transforming frustration into fuel. The path traced so far this season suggests resilience exists within this squad.

Final verdicts are being written in other cities already. For Inter Milan, judgment is postponed. For some rivals, the story may yet grow darker.