Wesley Sneijder, a central figure in Inter’s historic 2010 treble under Jose Mourinho, believes the current squad is a much stronger unit heading into Saturday night’s Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain. Reflecting on the Nerazzurri’s narrow defeat to Manchester City in the 2023 final, Sneijder insists that the team has grown significantly since that setback.
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Sneijder highlighted the contrast between this year’s campaign and the one in Istanbul two years ago. “This final is not like the last one,” he stated, emphasizing how Inter have improved across the board. In 2023, Inter were labelled underdogs and narrowly lost 1-0 to a City side powered by a decisive second-half goal from Rodri, who would later win the Ballon d’Or.
A stronger Inter, a balanced final
Sneijder pointed out that the upcoming clash with PSG has a more evenly matched feel, with no team standing out as the obvious favourite. He suggested that Inter’s progress over the past two seasons has been crucial, noting the team’s physical strength, mental resilience, and defensive discipline.
The Dutchman also acknowledged the importance of experience, explaining that the lessons learned from previous disappointments — including the Champions League final defeat and narrowly missing out on the Serie A title to Napoli by just one point — have shaped a more complete and mature squad. Sneijder believes this combination of growth and hunger will give Inter the edge they lacked in the past.
Though he refrained from offering a prediction, Sneijder expressed confidence in Simone Inzaghi and his players. He expects the heartbreak of missing the Scudetto will fuel their determination on the European stage. “We hope this Saturday becomes a night to remember,” he concluded.
