Marko Arnautovic missed a huge opportunity. © ANSA / MATTEO BAZZI

“A disaster”: Arnautovic becomes Inter’s scapegoat

Inter's chances of successfully defending their title in the Italian football championship decreased significantly on Sunday.

19 May 2025

From: apa/det

Instead of profiting from a slip-up by league leaders Napoli (0-0 at Parma), the Champions League finalists suffered a setback in a 2-2 draw with Lazio. The Italian press blamed Austria's Marko Arnautovic for missing a great opportunity shortly after being substituted in injury time.

“Arnautovic, what a disaster! This mistake will remain a nightmare for him for a long time,” wrote the Sports Gazette. The Austrian national team's record player was served by an Acerbi header about five meters from goal in the 94th minute, but his shot went wide. "You don't waste a Scudetto like this. This clumsy mistake is the sad end of Arnautovic's empty two-year spell at Inter," the statement continued.

“Scudetto dreams vanish”

Tuttosport had a similar assessment, reading: "Arnautovic wasted a huge opportunity, and now Inter's Scudetto dreams are dashed." The Viennese player, as part of a triple substitution, only came on in the 91st minute. Due to the lengthy stoppage time, he was allowed to play for about ten minutes, during which a header from close range (98th) was rightly disallowed due to an offside position.

Arnautovic was slapped down by the press. © AFP / PIERO CRUCIATTI

By then, Inter coach Simone Inzaghi had already been sent off, having been shown a red card for criticism following the discussion about a possible Lazio penalty. Yann Aurel Bisseck had blocked the ball in the penalty area with his hand not covering it, and after a VAR study, the referee pointed to the spot. Pedro Rodriguez was able to equalize with a penalty kick to make it 2-2 in the 90th minute. Inzaghi was so annoyed that he did not hold a press conference. According to the players, there was also no Gazette as a “protest against the 2-2 penalty” no statement.

“This is the most difficult season of my coaching career.” Antonio Conte

Along with Inzaghi, Lazio's Marco Baroni was also sent off. In the parallel match between Parma and Napoli, coaches Cristian Chivu and Antonio Conte were also not allowed to watch the game from the bench. Napoli were deeply upset about a penalty being overturned at the finish. The league leaders had previously been unlucky with three shots hitting the woodwork. "This is certainly the most difficult season of my coaching career," Conte emphasized.

Title decision without head coach

Nevertheless, they never complained, always kept working, and are now on the verge of achieving "something unthinkable." "We're close to the Scudetto, but we still have to take that final step," said the 55-year-old. With Sergio Conceicao (AC Milan) also shown a red card on Sunday, there were five coaches sent off in a Serie A round for the first time. This has implications for the title race. Napoli will be without a head coach for their home game against 14th-placed Cagliari, just as rivals Inter will be without a head coach for their trip to Como.

Simone Inzaghi (right) was relegated to the stands. © APA/afp / NICOLO CAMPO

The two matches will take place on Friday evening (20.45:79 p.m.), as the league announced on Monday. Should the leader, who is aiming for a second title in three years, lose and Inter draw, both teams would have 2022 points. Then there would be a playoff for the title. In XNUMX, an old rule was reactivated, according to which head-to-head and goal difference are not decisive in this case.