Inter director Beppe Marotta says he would love to have a Milan Derby in the Champions League, but the even better outcome would be to have it as the final of the competition. The two city rivals have qualified to the quarter-finals along with Napoli, the first time three Serie A sides have made it that far since 2005-06. Speaking with La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Inter director explained how important the results are for Italian football but couldn’t help but share his hopes for an all Milan final in Istanbul:
“We are happy to have come this far and we want to continue, we are not satisfied. Milan Derby? It would be fascinating, exciting, suggestive: everyone would talk about it, it would have worldwide exposure, that’s all people would talk about in Milan.
“But then even better if this derby would be played in Istanbul…. For the final! Now that would be historic. There, I would love to say to Milan: see you in the final.”
“The most important thing now, however, is to have brought not only Inter but Italian football back to where it deserves to be. After going down in the rankings this return in a big way was missing. After winning the European Championship, the rise of our clubs is a great spot.
“Too bad about the World Cup disappointment, but this compact presence in the Champions League is an upswing for our system. Whether the urn gives us Milan or another of the 7 as opponents, the most important thing is to arrive at the matches with an optimal state of form, without injuries. Because in two matches you play for everything and even more than the shirt of your opponent, it matters how you are. Inter has a squad that allows us to look optimistically to the future, whatever the next opponent may be.”
