Simone Inzaghi earmarked continuity as the key for Inter as they look to replicate domestic success in the Champions League this season.
The Nerazzurri romped to the Serie A title by 19 points last season and are fourth this term after six matches, albeit they are only two points back of Napoli.
However, they were knocked out in the last 16 of the Champions League last term having reached the final in the 2022-23 season.
They continue their latest tilt by welcoming Red Star Belgrade on Tuesday and Inzaghi said just finding some rhythm is going to be key for his side.
"It's difficult to win (the title) and it's even more difficult to win again. But as far as the lads are concerned, they are working with great commitment," Inzaghi told reporters on Monday ahead of Red Star's visit.
"Then, of course, we still lack that continuity that we had, especially last year. That continuity that makes the difference to you both in the championship and in the Champions League."
Finding continuity will be even more important in this season's Champions League with the new league phase format.
"Last year after the first two games you were able to take stock and understand how the games could go, because then you knew that in the third and fourth game you would have played the same opponent, home and away," Inzaghi said.
"Now it's a bit of everyone against everyone. It's a winning formula with two extra games, with more difficulties. You can't make calculations, because it's a sort of one-off game."
Those extra European games mean that rotating his team will be of even more importance this season, and Inzaghi is still unsure about who will start up front against Red Star.
"I still have to decide between Lautaro (Martinez), (Marcus) Thuram, (Marko) Arnautovic and (Mehdi) Taremi," he said.
"They will probably have a good chance to play all four of them. I don't know who will start, tomorrow I will have to evaluate today's training."
Piotr Zielinski has yet to start a league game this season, but Inzaghi confirmed the midfielder will be in the lineup against the Serbian side and expects a tough challenge against an outfit who lost their opening league phase game to Benfica.
"It's a team that started on July 20. They've had nine league games. They've played in the preliminaries," Inzaghi said. "It's a very well-trained team, with excellent players."
Fonseca: Milan need to be defensively perfect against Leverkusen
Paulo Fonseca warned his Milan side they to be "defensively perfect" to get a result at Bayer Leverkusen in Tuesday's Champions League clash.
Milan suffered a 3-1 home defeat to Liverpool in their European opener despite Christian Pulisic firing the Rossoneri into a third-minute lead.
The Serie A giants will be looking to get off the mark at the Bay Arena but head coach Fonseca said they must be flawless at the back.
"I don't think about changing (much), we need to have continuity. We know it's a different game, (but) I think it will be a similar game to the one against Liverpool," Fonseca told a press conference on Monday.
"Defensively I think the team has grown, it's a good test to see our defensive capabilities at the moment. I told the players that to beat a strong team like Leverkusen we need to make a defensively perfect team."
Xabi Alonso's Bundesliga champions began their campaign in Europe with a 4-0 win at Feyenoord but they have conceded 10 goals in their first five league games after letting in just 24 in 34 matches in the 2023-24 domestic season.
Seven-time European champions Milan, the only Italian side to triumph more than once in the Champions League era, are the top scorers in Serie A with 14 goals in six games this term.
"It is true that we have done well in the league in the last few games, but I have to say that Serie A is very different from these games we have in the Champions League," Fonseca said.
"Today I was made to read Xabi Alonso's words. When we talk about Italian teams, we always say the same thing - that (they) are good at defending and playing on the counter-attack. I would like other things to be said when we talk about Milan.
"We don't want to be like that. Tomorrow we will obviously defend because we will play against a very strong team, but when we have the ball we still want to play.
"I'm curious to see the team's behaviour in a different game to those we had in Serie A."
Milan may be without Spanish striker Alvaro Morata, who opened the scoring in their 3-0 home win against Lecce on Friday despite starting with a slight knock.
"He (Morata) made a big effort to play the last match," Fonseca said. "He is doubtful and we will manage him. Let's see how he is tomorrow. We don't want to take any risks."
Guardiola predicts Foden will soon flourish for Man City
Pep Guardiola predicted it will not be long until Phil Foden is back to his best for Manchester City.
Foden was named PFA Player of the Year and the Premier League Player of the Year following an exceptional season in 2023-24.
However, after featuring for England at Euro 2024, Foden has begun four of his five games this season on the bench, with his only start coming against Watford in the EFL Cup.
Speaking ahead of City's Champions League clash away in Slovakia against Slovan Bratislava, Guardiola said he was not concerned, though.
"Maybe I can have some doubts in many things, but Phil Foden is going to be back! As much as he feels good, he will be back," Guardiola told reporters.
"I think in 30 minutes at St James' Park [against Newcastle on Saturday], I felt already something that I like that I didn't see for example against Watford."
Foden is yet to score this season but an away trip to Bratislava, beaten 5-1 in their opening game at Celtic, could be the moment for him to open his account.
"Don't forget after the Euros he didn't have any training for two months, he had problems with some niggles and some problems in his health," Guardiola said.
"But now he is smiling and he's in his rhythm. He was the best player in the Premier League last season so we need him, he was important for us, but I have no doubts with his love for football and his training and passion, he will be back."
City drew their opening Champions League group game 0-0 at home against Inter and will be expected to dispatch of Bratislava on Tuesday with ease.
"I have incredible respect for all the teams in the Champions League especially when you play away," Guardiola said. "Hopefully we can be aggressive and take the result that we need.
"I have learned (in my career) that nothing is for granted. Nothing comes for free."
Should City, as expected, avoid defeat, they will equal the record for the longest unbeaten run in European Cup/Champions League history, which is held by Manchester United (25 games between September 2007 and May 2009).
Guardiola's side have won 16 and drawn eight of their last 24 matches in the Champions League, scoring 60 goals and conceding just 18 in return in that run.
San Jose Earthquakes v FC Dallas: Visitors must control the controllables
FC Dallas forward Logan Farrington urged his side to "take care of what we can control" as they bid to qualify for the playoffs.
Dallas' hopes of clinching a playoff spot took a blow as they lost 3-1 to Orlando City last time out.
The result left Dallas eight points behind the Portland Timbers, who occupy the final wildcard spot in the Western Conference.
Next up is a trip to the San Jose Earthquakes, who sit bottom of the West with just 18 points.
And Farrington, who had a goal disallowed for offside in Saturday's match, is taking confidence from a strong finish to their game against Orlando, despite the defeat.
As quoted by Big D Soccer, he said: "I think it shows what we can do and we know what we can do, but it needs to be a lot earlier in the game to get results and we know that. We're disappointed with the result.
"Right now we need to take care of what we can control. Go on the road, get six points, come back, and hopefully get another three points.
"We need to take care of business and hope the rest falls in place for us."
Reflecting on the loss to Orlando, Farrington added: "I think we definitely underperformed in the first half, especially after the game we had last week against LAFC. We came out flat, and they came out sharp and killed us on the ball.
"I think we were lucky to only be down by one. In the second half, we put in a better performance and came out stronger. We almost made the comeback but it was just too late."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
San Jose Earthquakes - Cristian Espinoza
It has been a dismal season for the 'Quakes, but that has not been for the efforts of Espinoza, who has provided 11 assists in MLS this season.
He is the star player Dallas must keep under lock and key if they are to get their playoff push back on track.
FC Dallas - Paul Arriola
Arriola got the goal for Dallas against Orlando, taking his tally for the season to five in MLS.
He is Dallas' second-highest scorer, behind Petar Musa (15).
MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW
The Earthquakes have lost seven of their last eight home matches (W1) including the last four in a row.
San Jose's only longer regular-season home losing streak (excluding breakaway shootouts) was a six-match run in July-August 2000.
Dallas, however, have won just one of their last 15 regular-season away matches in 2024 (D5 L9). The only season in which Dallas did not manage at least two road wins over a full campaign was 2003 (one).
Seven of the last 10 meetings between these teams have ended in draws, with Dallas winning twice and San Jose winning once.
San Jose are winless in seven straight meetings with Dallas (D2 L5).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
San Jose - 33%
Dallas - 41.4%
Draw - 25.6%
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