ROME, ITALY – MAY 13: CEO of FC Internazionale, Giuseppe Marotta, celebrates alongside his team after their triumphant victory in the Coppa Italia final against SS Lazio at Stadio Olimpico on May 13, 2026. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)
Inter President Beppe Marotta has firmly stated that his club “has the right to dream” as they look ahead to the Champions League, following a draw that pitches them against the storied teams of Liverpool and Real Madrid.
The draw for the 2026/27 Champions League League Phase took place today in Monaco, with each team set to line up against four opponents both at home and away.
Fresh from clinching the Scudetto and Coppa Italia, not to mention reaching two Champions League finals in the last four seasons, Inter is notably the only Italian side to qualify as a top seed in this draw.
The Nerazzurri will face Liverpool, who recently transferred Curtis Jones to them, along with Club Brugge, Shakhtar Donetsk, and VfB Stuttgart.
This season’s fixtures will also see a nostalgic return for former treble-winning coach Jose Mourinho, now at Real Madrid, with Inter set to travel to Borussia Dortmund, Feyenoord, and Slovan Bratislava.
Marotta Declares Inter’s Ambition
“This is an exciting moment for us, with this being the ninth consecutive year that Inter has qualified for the Champions League. The team has become a steadfast participant in this prestigious competition,” Marotta shared with Sky Sport Italia. “The meeting with Mourinho adds to the intrigue. This truly is the pinnacle of football.”
This summer, Inter has bolstered its squad with three England internationals: the aforementioned Curtis Jones from Liverpool, Djed Spence from Tottenham Hotspur, and free-agent John Stones, who joined after his contract with Manchester City expired.
“The decision to sign these players was guided by our technical staff, including Piero Ausilio, Dario Baccin, and Cristian Chivu. What’s crucial is the wealth of experience and quality they bring to the squad,” Marotta emphasized.
While it has been over a decade since Inter last lifted the Champions League trophy in 2010 as part of their historic treble, they have made impressive strides by reaching the final twice in the past four years.
Last season proved to be somewhat bittersweet, as a disappointing exit in the playoffs against Bodo/Glimt cast a shadow over their domestic double triumph.
“We must maintain our ambition; our recent performances in the Champions League reflect that. We possess the requisite quality and, importantly, the right to dream,” Marotta stated confidently. “However, we recognize that our journey will also depend on the fortunes of other teams, especially given the unpredictability of this new format. It’s hard to predict who will advance until the very end.”
Under the new format, the top eight teams will advance directly to the Round of 16, while those finishing from ninth to 24th will need to navigate the playoffs. Unfortunately, teams finishing below the 25th place will find their European journey cut short in January.
