Inter, Champions of Italy: player comments

“We reset after the Club World Cup. I said what I said at the time because I’d seen things I didn’t like. That’s just who I am, I say what I think. But today there’s only happiness about the work we’ve done, because we’ve been through a lot and it wasn’t easy to go again after last season. I’m delighted with this achievement because it was a big objective for us. Maybe at the start we weren’t seen as favourites after the way last season went, but through hard work we overcame every challenge. We’ve been performing at a high level for years now, including in Europe, where we’ve reached two Champions League finals in three years. I always say we need to keep this mentality because when you win, you have to keep wanting to win. In a very competitive league like this one, we managed to get over the line with a strong finish. The best thing about this team, and the most important feeling I take with me, is how united this group is. A lot of credit goes to the coach. He’s been excellent at bringing energy and enthusiasm and getting everyone involved. Under Simone Inzaghi, we had four incredible years at the highest level, but after that final the new coach came in and gave us fresh energy, bringing smiles back to the whole group. That made a big difference over the course of the season. The chance to finish another title-winning season as top scorer makes me very happy. There’s always the desire to keep moving forward. The important thing is not to go backwards. When you win, you have to keep winning.”

“I’m very happy. We always said this was our objective, and now we have to enjoy this moment because it wasn’t easy to achieve such an important goal. In football and in life, you go through difficult moments. Last season is the example, when we came close to winning everything but in the end didn’t lift a trophy. This season, however, shows that in football and in life you have to get back up, give everything, and never give up. I can only thank the club and my teammates, who have always had kind words for me. I’ve tried to repay them by always giving my best on the pitch. When you play, you can do well or badly, you can make mistakes, but I can say this team has never lost its desire to stick together and give everything. I can only be proud of that.”

“On Barella, I can say he’s one of the best players in the world. I think he’s the best Italian player, and he’s someone who can do everything on the pitch. Even the best can be questioned at times, but Bare has always had our full support. He’s a player who gives everything, both in training and in matches. Since I arrived at Inter, I’ve always seen great strength in this group, because this team wants to be together, enjoy itself, and win. On the pitch, we always try to give our all. Thank you to everyone, forza Inter!”

“This is a huge achievement for us, especially after everything that happened last summer. We've grown closer as a group, and the credit for that goes to Coach Chivu, who has helped us hugely in that sense. Chivu was the first to believe in me, and I've tried to repay that trust by giving my all for him and for the team. Of course, I would have preferred it with fewer injuries, but I think I still did my part despite making fewer appearances, and I let my performances on the pitch speak for themselves. ”

“This is an incredible feeling: seeing Milano turn Nerazzurro is truly surreal. Of course, I'll be with everyone celebrating in Piazza Duomo, for sure. This season feels like a fresh start after last year's disappointments. We all worked hard to win the Scudetto and make this dream come true. Being united as a team made all the difference; this squad has always stuck together, even when we have been heavily criticised, and we always delivered. We have to enjoy this victory as much as we can after last year. I dedicate this Scudetto to everyone close to me, and especially to those who wrote me off at the end of last year. ”

“It's a special night. We knew we had to win tonight so we could celebrate with our fans. We just couldn't wait any longer. It's really special for me to win the league in my first year with Inter; it's truly beautiful. This team is like a family; we showed great character throughout the season, stuck together, and pushed each other to keep going all year long. To win the Scudetto, you need to be able to count on everyone, and everyone played a crucial role. ”