The former striker, speaking as a Sky Sport commentator, argued that Inter cannot rely on the ability to recover from difficult positions that has served them in Serie A. Club Brugge’s victory left Cristian Chivu’s team without a point after two Champions League league-phase matches.
“Some things need to be sorted out in the defensive line and across the team, but there is another factor: in the league, Inter can go two goals behind and still win comfortably. Europe is a different dimension, and it is a mistake to think Inter can do the same there,” Di Canio said.
He also questioned whether Inter’s recent European performances had justified their reputation. The team reached two Champions League finals in the recent past, but Di Canio believes the current pattern represents a change from those campaigns.
“In these matches, they have deserved to lose them all. Perhaps there have been incidents that could have gone differently, but they have never deserved to win. The trend has changed compared with the period that took Inter to two finals,” he said.
His criticism extended beyond the performance against Brugge to the club’s recruitment. Di Canio argued that Inter have strong players but lack the exceptional individuals who can consistently decide the biggest matches.
“This team does not have any phenomena. It has very, very good players who have done fantastic things, but they are not phenomena,” he said.
He also questioned whether some of the players brought in were being asked to carry responsibilities they had not held at their previous clubs.
“Those who arrived were not important pillars at their former clubs, such as Akanji at Manchester City, but here they are expected to be,” Di Canio added.
The defeat exposed problems that Inter must address quickly, particularly when their pressing leaves gaps between the defensive and midfield lines. Chivu has acknowledged the need for better distances and greater composure, while Brugge showed how effectively an opponent can exploit disorganisation.
Di Canio’s broader point was that domestic strength alone does not guarantee European progress. Inter Milan’s recent finals remain evidence of their potential, but he believes the team must rediscover the balance, defensive reliability and individual quality required to compete consistently at that level.