Inter Milan have a great past but have been without a title since 2011. In the final of the Europa League on Friday, however, the Lombards are favored.
Düsseldorf (dpa) - Even coach Antonio Conte was downright exuberant. "The players deserve praise.
It was a great achievement. We played in such a way that Shakhtar looked like an average team, "said the Inter Milan coach after the 5-0 (1-0) gala in the semi-finals of the Europa League in Düsseldorf. Sevilla FC set a record in Cologne on Friday -Winner of the competition in the final, but Inter takes several current records into the first final of a European Cup final tournament.
Record victory: A 5-0 in a semi-final of the Europa League or the previous UEFA Cup competition had never happened before Monday. Even though there was usually a round trip of all pairings. In the entire European Cup there was a 5-0 semi-final 31 years ago: At that time, Inter's city rivals AC Milan defeated Real Madrid in the first leg in the European Cup of the national champions with the same result - and then also won the final against Steaua Bucharest clear with 4: 0.
Record scorer I: He was unlucky for a long time in Düsseldorf, but then Romelu Lukaku scored twice (78th / 84th). The Inter striker is thus the first player to score in ten consecutive Europa League games. And with 19 goals he is now the most successful Belgian in this competition.
Record striker II: Lukaku only moved to Inter from Manchester United last summer. And he could finally bring back memories of Ronaldo on Friday. The Brazilian mega-star, two-time world champion and three-time world footballer, scored a total of 34 competitive goals in his debut year for the Milanese in 1998 - and ultimately won the UEFA Cup with the club. It was the last title in this competition to date. Lukaku has had 33 competitive goals since Monday.
But in the end, even the euphoric Conte warned his team against cockiness. "We shouldn't overestimate the result," he said. "It's our first time a game like this, and Sevilla have a lot of experience in it." The Andalusians have won the competition three times since it was renamed the Europa League in 2009 and five times since 2006. Inter won their last title ever, the Italian Cup in 2011. And could only prevent another decade without a trophy on Friday.
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