Inter Milan’s Dramatic 3-3 Comeback: Unveiling the Dressing Room Episode and Erasing Shameful Records

Inter Milan's thrilling comeback from 0-3 to 3-3 against Benfica was nothing short of sensational. As Gazzetta dello Sport put it, "Inter walked into hell but... came back safely!" The match, which saw Inter make eight changes to their starting lineup, began disastrously for the Nerazzurri. Italian media were brutally honest in their post-match assessments of Inter’s first-half performance. Asllani was criticized for making numerous basic errors, Klaassen was described as playing like an 80-year-old despite being 30, and Bisseck was slammed for his poor defensive positioning.

The first half saw Inter set several ignominious records: for the first time since the Champions League format was revised, Inter conceded two goals in the opening 15 minutes and trailed by three goals at halftime. João Mário became the first player since Gareth Bale in 2010 to score a hat-trick against Inter in the Champions League. Bale's hat-trick symbolized the beginning of Inter's decline from European champions to Serie A's seventh place over two years. However, this time, the outcome was different.

These dismal records were redefined in the second half as mere preludes to a grand spectacle. For the first time in the revised Champions League format, Inter managed to come back from a three-goal deficit. While stunning comebacks are not uncommon in the Champions League, Inter, known as "Pazza Inter" (Crazy Inter), had few such moments in this competition. This match now stands as a new milestone.

Had Barella been a bit luckier in the end, this could have been a legendary "comeback from three goals down to win," remembered by generations of fans. Inter's first-half performance was indeed poor. Many substitutes had not played for a while, and their physical condition and touch were lacking. The mass rotation of eight players meant that the reserves, who had never played together, struggled to find rhythm and understanding, especially against Benfica’s aggressive strategy.

The Italian media were not exaggerating when they said Inter was "sent to hell." Thankfully, the second half saw a dramatic turnaround with many positives. Bisseck, for instance, showcased his strengths in passing, distribution, and offensive play. Experts are now calling for the German youngster, who is talented offensively but needs to improve defensively, to perhaps play as a wing-back.

Marko Arnautović, after 4,740 days, scored again in the Champions League, while Davide Frattesi opened his Champions League account. Inter's variety of scorers this season ranks them fifth among the 32 teams in the group stage. How should we evaluate such a match? Naturally harsh critics might focus solely on the first half, ignoring the positives of the second half, to find scapegoats and conduct a trial. However, such cheap and boring endeavors hold no interest for me. Instead, let’s focus on another question: What happened in the locker room at halftime that sparked such a stunning transformation in the second half?

Post-match, the players offered some insights. Bisseck pointed out, "We didn't know why we couldn't get into the game in the first half. It wasn't because of too many rotations; it was a psychological issue that we corrected in the second half. Sometimes this happens. What happened at halftime? We were all angry in the locker room; we didn’t want to go home like that, we didn’t want to lose!"

Alexis Sánchez added, "This kind of comeback is what a champion team like us should achieve. In the locker room, we admitted our mistakes and knew we needed to wake up and try." Carlos Augusto noted, "We talked among ourselves in the locker room and agreed that our poor first-half performance was a mental issue. There were many rotations, but that’s no excuse; we had to correct it in the second half."

According to the Italian media, in the halftime locker room, Inter players were angry, frustrated, and unwilling to accept defeat. They engaged in self-reflection, acknowledged their mistakes, and motivated each other to play better in the second half. Coach Simone Inzaghi didn’t lambast the players but admitted his own mistakes (he later said that rotating only 4-5 players would have been simpler). This “self-reflection session” became the catalyst for Inter’s remarkable second-half transformation.

After the match, Inzaghi emphasized, "I don’t have 11 starters, I have 20," indicating that his confidence in rotating the squad has not been shaken but rather strengthened. Recently, there has been much talk about how Inter’s squad harmony has significantly improved compared to last season. This comeback serves as proof that such harmony and unity can be crucial in shifting the balance of a match.

Imagine a less cohesive team: after a disastrous first half, if everyone was busy blaming each other, pointing fingers, and comparing whose shrug was more professional, and if the coach followed with a "hairdryer treatment" that demoralized already insecure players, there would have been no second-half comeback. This shows that Inter has gained something this season that they lacked last season—an intangible strength born out of unity and cohesion.

The transformation from a dismal first half to a spectacular second half in the match against Benfica is a testament to the power of teamwork, self-reflection, and determination. It highlights the importance of mental resilience and collective effort in overcoming adversity. This newfound strength and unity could be pivotal for Inter as they navigate the rest of the season, striving for success both domestically and in Europe.