Is Champions League defeat end of an era for Inter?

The extremity of an era for Inter Milan?

As Paris St-Germain dismantled Inter 5-0 to triumph their first Champions League - successful nan biggest last triumph ever - it whitethorn person fixed nan Nerazzuri a consciousness their ain rebuild is needed this summer, albeit connected a tighter budget.

PSG's starting XI astatine Allianz Arena costs astir £403m to assemble, compared to nan astir £137m Inter shelled retired for their starting line-up.

Inter leader Simone Inzaghi - whose ain early is uncertain - put retired nan 3rd oldest broadside successful Champions League last history. Seven of nan aforesaid starting XI that mislaid to Manchester City 2 years agone successful Istanbul started again here.

"The players merit awesome credit. They gave it their champion shot. I wouldn't alteration these players for thing else," said Inzaghi aft nan crippled - while failing to guarantee he would still beryllium successful complaint for adjacent month's Fifa Club World Cup.

But they conscionable could not header pinch nan younker of PSG, arsenic what had nan imaginable of being a treble-winning play conscionable weeks agone ends up arsenic nothing.

In Francesco Acerbi, Yann Sommer and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Inter were nan first broadside to commencement 3 players aged 36 aliases older successful a European Cup aliases Champions League final.

"As nan crippled progressed and nan scoreline was progressing arsenic well, they did look for illustration 1 of nan oldest teams successful nan competition," said BBC Match of nan Day pundit Nedum Onuoha.

So what now - and what could they study from PSG?

Before this final, Inter president Giuseppe Marotta said owners Oaktree, who took complete nan nine past year, wanted to spell down a exemplary of "investments successful somewhat younger profiles who correspond a existent asset".

If they moreover had a sliver of uncertainty earlier nan Munich showdown against PSG they will beryllium moreover surer now.

Inzaghi said: "The nine is strong. The nine supports us. We've signed 2 players for adjacent season."

He was referring to Dinamo Zagreb and Croatia midfielder Petar Sucic, 21, and presumably Marseille's Brazilian winger Luis Henrique, 23 - who has been powerfully linked.

The leader continued: "We cognize we person to motion more. The nine supports america each nan way."

On Saturday, they conscionable could not header pinch PSG's pace, energy, activity and invention. Left-back Federico Dimarco was questionable for nan opening 2 goals, though he had been hauled disconnected agelong earlier PSG started notching up grounds numbers.

And that was contempt resting respective of their starters for nan last time of nan Serie A season, moreover though nan title was up for grabs. Inter did triumph their crippled that day, but Napoli took nan title.

"Tonight we were much tired than PSG. We didn't play well. We weren't fresh," said Inzaghi.

"They were ever location connected nan 2nd balls. We played our convention until Friday. They won their convention a mates of months successful advance."

But they will person to find caller clubs for immoderate of their players if they do determine a refresh is successful order. None of their starting XI successful Munich is retired of statement successful nan summer.

With an mean property of 30 years and 242 days, it was nan 3rd oldest starting XI successful a Champions League final. PSG's players were, connected average, 5 years and 146 days younger.

But who will beryllium doing nan rebuild?

Inzaghi, who led Inter to past season's Serie A title and 2 Italian Cups, is considered a highly talented coach, and would person astir apt person been seen arsenic 1 of nan elite had his broadside won this. He has been heavy linked to Saudi nine Al-Hilal.

In Friday's pre-match news convention wrong Allianz Arena he did thing to play down suggestions this could beryllium his past crippled successful charge.

And aft nan crippled he did not perpetrate either.

"It's not nan correct clip to talk astir my future," he said. "We're highly disappointed. It's awkward to talk astir my early now.

"We'll beryllium talking astir nan truth we won nary silverware this year."

When asked if he would beryllium successful complaint for nan Club World Cup, which starts adjacent month, he said: "I cannot reply this mobility now. I came present retired of respect for you [media]. I'm hurting from a sporting constituent of view.

"Defeats make you stronger. We've been done this before. We mislaid successful Istanbul and nan pursuing twelvemonth we won nan league."

"This is going to consciousness overmuch worse for nan Inter Milan players than their conclusion to Manchester City successful nan 2023 final," said ex-City defender Onuoha.

"They played good successful that game, but coming they offered nothing.

"I deliberation erstwhile you arsenic a master locomotion disconnected nan section for illustration that, successful a crippled wherever you haven't mislaid a player, I deliberation it is simply a existent origin for concern."

Italian shot journalist James Horncastle, speaking connected BBC Radio 5 Live, added: "Inter felt that this was nan only point they were missing.

"Once again, they person to watch different squad celebrating and jumping astir and partying.

"They person won a batch but they person mislaid a lot. But that's conscionable portion of sport."

Speaking astir nan conclusion 2 years agone against City, Inzaghi added: "We cognize defeats tin make you stronger. Tonight's conclusion hurts a batch conscionable for illustration nan nonaccomplishment successful Istanbul. They were 2 very different matches.

"We've been done this. We tin get going again each together."

Opponents PSG person conscionable completed an overhaul of their ain - though it was astir egos and not ages.

Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar - a beforehand 3 of players who each thought they were nan prima - person gone retired nan doorway successful caller years.

But Inter will not person nan resources of PSG’s Qatari owners.