Zielinski Emphasizes Inter’s Champions League Ambitions for New Season

FolioPitch.com – 17 July 2026 | Piotr Zielinski has made it clear that Zielinski Inter must do better in the Champions League this season after a disappointing early exit last year. The Polish midfielder agrees with Inter President Beppe Marotta that the focus this campaign must be on improving European performances, following domestic success.

Inter secured the Serie A title and Coppa Italia in the 2025-26 season under coach Cristian Chivu, but their Champions League campaign ended prematurely in the play-offs against Bodo/Glimt. Speaking at Inter’s pre-season camp in Germany, Zielinski reiterated that Zielinski Inter must do better in the Champions League to meet the club’s high standards.

“Our ambitions are high. We want to repeat our success in Serie A and the Coppa Italia, and add a little something extra in the Champions League,” Zielinski told reporters. “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.”

The 31-year-old’s comments echo those of President Marotta, who demanded progress in Europe during his summer press conference. Inter have not reached the Champions League knockout stages since the 2023-24 season, and the club’s hierarchy is eager to see a deeper run. Zielinski noted that coach Chivu has been inspiring the squad to find new motivation.

“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,” Zielinski said.

Inter’s early exit last season was a bitter pill, given their domestic dominance. Bodo/Glimt, a relatively unknown Norwegian side, eliminated the Nerazzurri in a two-legged tie that exposed defensive frailties. Now, with the transfer market still open, Inter have strengthened their squad, adding depth to key positions. Zielinski believes the team has the quality to compete on all fronts, but acknowledges that Zielinski Inter must do better in the Champions League to prove themselves among Europe’s elite.

When asked about Scudetto rivals, Zielinski dismissed suggestions that Juventus would not be contenders, as claimed by Luciano Spalletti. “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,” he replied. “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.”

The message is clear: Inter’s domestic double was remarkable, but the Champions League remains the missing piece. For Zielinski and his teammates, the mantra is simple—Zielinski Inter must do better in the Champions League. As the season approaches, the pressure is on to translate domestic consistency into European success. Inter fans will hope that with renewed focus and a strong squad, the Nerazzurri can finally make a deep run in Europe’s premier competition.