Kilometres, love, pride: our season

There's a mix of clouds and smoke in the sky above Istanbul. The moon looming over the Atatürk Olympic Stadium makes a tentative attempt to break through. Wiping off the sweat and with their eyes glazed over, Nerazzurri fans leave the venue one by one. It's been a long day. It's been a long night. It's been a very long season. Inter's campaign started on 13 August 2022, a lifetime ago. Since then, 301 days and 43 weekends have passed. There have been 57 matches, numerous training sessions, long waits, away days and flights. So many kilometres have been covered by car, bike and plane.

Every season has a final match and every book has a conclusion. The Nerazzurri's endless campaign finished with a final in Istanbul. A bitter ending. Inter's defeat was a narrow one, and the question "What if?" is still circulating in our minds. We had at least four chances to score. What if one had gone in? It just wasn't to be.

We sang all over Italy and Europe. Our journey became more and more exhilarating. It was so sweet and so meaningful. There was that chant that started in February before being adopted by all on the streets of Porto, at the Da Luz, on numerous occasions at San Siro and, finally, in Turkey. "Per tutti quei chilometri che ho fatto per te" ("For all those kilometres I've travelled for you"): from Lecce to Istanbul, from Riyadh to Rome. These were stages on a journey that saw us lift two trophies - the Supercoppa Italiana and the Coppa Italia - and reaffirm our dominance in the city. The two Champions League derbies were just brilliant for our colours. The trip home is always longer than outward journey. As we weave through Istanbul traffic looking for the best route back to Italy, the words of our President, Coach and players certainly resonate. "Pride". It's not a mask to hide behind following defeat but rather something we're all feeling. Pride for how we've approached the season, for how we fought until the very end. Together. Our campaign finished with a collective siege, with everyone making their way forward. This team never gave up and never spared any energy. And the same applies to the fans, the staff and the management. A family pushing forward, between difficulties and triumphs.

Mentality and energy. Two key ingredients in this "extraordinary journey", as Simone Inzaghi put it. It ended with Inter being thwarted by the bar and the Manchester City goalkeeper, who helped his club win three trophies in a single season, a feat achieved by the Nerazzurri in 2010. Inter have been involved in six Champions League finals, winning three and suffering the same number of defeats. Every time the Nerazzurri have lost, their opponents have become treble winners (Celtic in 1967, Ajax in 1972 and now City).

It in no way makes the night in Istanbul any less bitter, but it does leave us reflecting on a brilliant Champions League campaign. After losing to Bayern, the only way was up, with the Nerazzurri getting the better of Barcelona, Porto, Benfica and AC Milan to make it to the final. Lautaro Martinez was always involved. Indeed, quite incredibly, he played in all of Inter's 57 matches in 2022/23. All of them. This is a record for an Inter outfield player in a single campaign.

Numbers, thoughts, highlights, snapshots. All of this on a day that we so hoped would be black&blue. The sea of fans that invaded Istanbul is now returning. There are tired faces and there's melancholy, inevitably. But there's also a huge amount of pride. The Nerazzurri faithful, after breaking every attendance record this campaign, were absolutely magnificent once again. Not only in Istanbul but also Milano, where supporters filled San Siro and the Piazza Duomo. All for this team. For whom they will continue to travel kilometre after kilometre. Because loving Inter is special.