Inter’s Champions League Dream: Marotta Declares Nerazzurri Have the Right to Dream

FolioPitch.com – 28 August 2026 | Marotta Inter have the right to dream in Champions League, the Nerazzurri president declared after Friday’s draw placed them against Liverpool and Real Madrid. Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, Beppe Marotta emphasized Inter’s growing status as a European powerhouse, insisting that the club’s ambition is not misplaced but grounded in recent successes and a squad built to compete at the highest level.

The 2026/27 Champions League league phase draw in Monaco delivered a mix of glamour and danger for Inter. As the only Italian club among the top seeds, they will host Liverpool, Club Brugge, Shakhtar Donetsk, and VfB Stuttgart at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. On the road, they face a reunion with treble-winning coach José Mourinho—now at Real Madrid—along with trips to Borussia Dortmund, Feyenoord, and Slovan Bratislava.

For Marotta, the draw represents an opportunity rather than a threat. “This is always a fascinating occasion,” he said. “It is the ninth consecutive year that Inter are in the Champions League, so the team is now a fixed presence in this competition. There is an intriguing reunion with Mourinho, and we are certainly talking about the most important competition in world football.”

The Nerazzurri arrive at this year’s campaign on the back of a domestic double, having claimed both the Scudetto and the Coppa Italia. They have also reached two Champions League finals in the last four seasons, though their most recent European campaign ended in disappointment with a playoff elimination at the hands of Bodo/Glimt. That early exit, Marotta admitted, still stings, but it has only sharpened the club’s focus.

Inter’s summer transfer business has been aggressive and strategic. The club signed Curtis Jones from Liverpool, Djed Spence from Tottenham Hotspur, and John Stones on a free transfer after his Manchester City contract expired. All three are England internationals, adding a distinct Premier League flavor to the squad. Marotta credited the technical staff—Piero Ausilio, Dario Baccin, and coach Cristian Chivu—for identifying players who bring not only quality but also a winning mentality. “The number of titles these players have won speaks for itself,” he noted.

Jones has already made an impact, scoring on his debut in a Serie A match against Monza. His arrival from Liverpool, just before the draw, adds an extra layer of intrigue to Inter’s group-stage clash with the Reds. Stones, meanwhile, brings years of top-level experience from Manchester City, while Spence offers youthful energy on the flanks. The trio’s integration has been seamless, according to early season performances.

The league phase format, introduced last season, remains unpredictable. The top eight teams advance directly to the round of 16, while those finishing between 9th and 24th enter playoff ties. Sides below 25th are eliminated from Europe entirely in January. Marotta acknowledged the difficulty of forecasting results in such a system, but that uncertainty is precisely why he believes Inter can thrive. “We must always be ambitious,” he said. “We have quality, but also the right to dream. We’re aware that our path depends on how other teams perform; this new format has made everything very unpredictable.”

Marotta Inter have the right to dream in Champions League because this is a club that has learned how to compete on multiple fronts. The depth of the squad, the tactical acumen of Chivu, and the leadership of players like Lautaro Martínez and Nicolò Barella give the Nerazzurri a genuine chance against any opponent. Even against Liverpool and Real Madrid, Inter are no longer the underdogs they once were.

The Mourinho reunion at the Santiago Bernabéu will be emotionally charged. The Portuguese coach led Inter to the historic treble in 2010, and his return to Milan as an opponent always stirs memories. Yet Marotta is focused on the future, not the past. “We have quality and experience,” he said. “The most important thing is that these players bring titles with them.”

Inter’s Champions League record since winning the trophy in 2010 has been a mix of near-misses and setbacks. Reaching two finals in four seasons proves they belong at Europe’s top table, but the ultimate prize has eluded them. Bodo/Glimt’s playoff upset last year was a harsh reminder that no game can be taken for granted. Still, Marotta believes this squad is different. The addition of proven winners like Stones and Jones, combined with the core that has grown through those final runs, creates a balance of hunger and savoir-faire.

As the draw settles, Inter fans can already circle dates on their calendars. The visit of Liverpool will be a test of their credentials, while the trip to Real Madrid will be a nostalgic yet fierce battle. Club Brugge, Shakhtar Donetsk, and VfB Stuttgart may seem more manageable, but in the new format, every point matters. Borussia Dortmund away, Feyenoord’s passionate home crowd, and a trip to Slovan Bratislava will demand full concentration.

Marotta’s message is clear: Marotta Inter have the right to dream in Champions League, and that dream is not a flight of fancy. It is built on consistent participation, strategic recruitment, and a winning culture that has been restored over the past decade. The Nerazzurri are no longer just participants in Europe’s elite competition; they are contenders.

The road to the final in Budapest will be long and fraught with danger. But with a president who believes, a coach who inspires, and players who have tasted success, Inter can dare to imagine lifting the trophy for the first time since 2010. As Marotta put it, “We are a team who had strong runs in recent years. We have quality, and we have the right to dream.” For Inter, that dream is very much alive.