In Italy, especially in the Italian media, when it comes to Inter Milan, there is “le chiacchiere”, or constant chatter.
With each win comes more talk about drama, crisis, and money. But if you look beyond the noise, you’ll notice that something unusual is happening at Intel.
This is more than just a football club at the moment, it’s a living masterclass in leadership, discipline and resilience.
To be honest, losing 5-0 hurts. There was no game against Paris Saint-Germain, but it immediately felt like everything fell apart.
Analysts declared the cycle over within hours. A few days later, Simone Inzaghi left for Saudi Arabia and the headlines read “Inter Crisis”.
Inter Milan after the collapse
If he had won the Champions League with Munich, he probably would have stayed. But losing another final made it even more difficult.
Some may argue that his departure was already decided before the final whistle and was an opportunistic move more motivated by money than mission.
It’s natural for fans to be disappointed. It’s hard for leaders to accept walking away from the great team they’ve built.
But I, the great man, act differently. The day after that loss, Inter didn’t sulk or spin any stories. they were trained. And it’s ready.
They acted as if it had never happened – not out of arrogance, but out of conviction. Because at Inter, failure is never decisive. It’s benzina, the fuel for growth.
This is what good leadership looks like in reality. When others see collapse, Intel sees construction.
Cristian Chivu – Silent Leader
Next came Cristian Chivu. He was gentle, humble and little known outside Inter’s youth hierarchy.
No slogans, no noise, just quiet performance. From the outside looking in, appointing him seemed risky. From the inside, it looked like trust.
The Kivu did not try to erase Inzaghi’s legacy. He accepted that evolution. The players responded not with words but with the right attitude.
The same calm that once came from the bench is now coming from the locker room. No drama, no panic, just doing the job.
And it shows on the pitch as well. Inter are playing very well with Chivu as their new leader.
Inter Milan takes calculated risks as a strategy
While the media focused on speculation and ownership, Inter continued to operate like a modern organization. Restrictions are not excuses. They were an opportunity to refine.
Under Giuseppe Marotta, Inter have developed the virtues of a structure that manages risk, contracts and value with a precision that few clubs can talk about.
While other companies chased noise, Intel stayed quiet. Fare Tanto, Parlare poco — Do a lot and talk a little. That’s their competitive advantage.
Resilience as identity
For Inter, resilience isn’t about surviving disruption, it’s about controlling the tempo as the world accelerates. This team stopped reacting and started dictating tone, planning, narrative, etc.
Despite the speculation, Inter remained calm. The players followed their leaders’ signals and were focused, united and professional.
In a culture of crisis, Intel is redefining what it means to be calm.
leadership lessons
Momentum isn’t magic. It’s a discipline. It is fiducia, or trust, that is built day by day through training after training and decision after decision.
Intel has learned that risk is not the enemy, failure is a teacher, and that leadership means preserving your identity when everything else feels uncertain. It’s not just a sport, it’s a strategy.
Because at the end of the day, greatness is not in how you celebrate your victories, but in how you act after your defeats. In that sense, Inter remains, Semplimente Inter.
Posted by: Andrea Zanon
Andrea Zanon is the co-founder of Confidente. He is an international advisor who has worked for financial institutions and entrepreneurs on sustainability, international affairs and development.
