Zielinski: 'Inter must do better in the Champions League'
Quick summary
Inter Milan midfielder Piotr Zielinski says the club must improve their Champions League performances, calling it a key objective for the season.
Full article
Attributed to original sourcePiotr Zielinski agrees with Inter President Beppe Marotta that the focus this season must be ‘doing better in Europe’ after winning Serie A and the Coppa Italia.
The Nerazzurri secured the Double last season, taking the Scudetto and Coppa Italia trophies in the first campaign under coach Cristian Chivu.
However, they faltered in the Champions League with an early exit in the play-offs to Bodo/Glimt.
Zielinski aiming for Champions League success MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Piotr Zielinski of FC Internazionale Milano is put under pressure by Jonathan David of Juventus during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) “Our ambitions are high, we want to repeat our success in Serie A, the Coppa Italia, and add a little something extra in the Champions League,” Zielinski told reporters at Inter’s pre-season camp in Germany.
“We have a great team and we must do better in Europe than last season. We have a team that ought to be challenging on every front, so we’ll see where we end up. The Champions League was below our usual level last season, and we certainly need to improve.”
BERGAMO, ITALY – DECEMBER 28: Piotr Zielinski of FC Internazionale in action during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and FC Internazionale at New Balance Arena on December 28, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) This was also the demand made by President Marotta in the opening press conference of the summer, but how has coach Chivu been inspiring the squad?
“He urged us to find new motivation, ambition and hunger for this new season, and to leave the past behind us. We’ve got to focus on what could come and prepare for this new campaign.”
Luciano Spalletti said today that Juventus were not going to be in the Scudetto race, so who are Inter’s biggest rivals?
“I think there are some very strong teams who will challenge us for the title, but we’re still at the beginning, the transfer market is wide open, so it’s too early to tell what will happen. I expect to see three or four sides,” replied Zielinski.
“I won’t hide it, we all know what it means to win the Serie A title. We’ll do everything to win the Scudetto, Coppa Italia, and give our best in the Champions League too.”
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What happened
Piotr Zielinski, who joined Inter Milan in the summer, has stressed that the club needs to raise their level in the Champions League this season. Speaking ahead of upcoming fixtures, the Polish international acknowledged that Inter's European campaign has not met expectations and emphasized the responsibility on the squad to compete at the highest level domestically and in Europe. He also pointed to Serie A consistency as a foundation for improving continental results.
Chance analysis
This is a player-driven motivational message rather than tactical or lineup news. Zielinski's public call for improvement signals internal awareness that Inter's recent Champions League results have underperformed, which could carry modest morale and pressure implications heading into upcoming European fixtures. For prediction systems, the signal is directional (Inter players/management self-identifying CL underperformance) but does not provide concrete lineup, injury, or transfer intelligence.
No direct impact on team selection or availability; signals Inter's intent to prioritize European performance going forward.
Inter players publicly acknowledging Champions League underperformance — slight pressure signal, no concrete predictive value for a specific match.