Former Inter president says club made mistake hiring Benitez

Former Inter president Massimo Moratti believes the Italian club shouldn't have hired Rafa Benitez as Jose Mourinho's successor in 2010.

The Portuguese left for Real Madrid after winning an historic treble with Inter, and Benitez arrived with the core of that team still in place. But Moratti contends that the difference in the managers' personalities was far too stark, with Benitez creating an untenable atmosphere at the San Siro.

"We made a mistake appointing him," Moratti told La Gazzetta di Parma, according to ESPN FC. "I didn't do anything to annoy him, but it got to the stage where I actually wanted to because it seemed like we were not permitted to celebrate anything because we were living in a climate of terror and we had to be careful not to offend anybody.

"There was no enthusiasm in this situation, and that is what you need to win things."

Benitez only lasted a few months at the helm of the Nerazzurri, although he did manage to lead the club to the Supercoppa Italiana and the Club World Cup. Inter, which had won the past four Serie A titles, slipped to sixth place in the league and eventually conceded the crown to city rival AC Milan.

The Spaniard famously demanded for more investments, but Moratti declined to make further signings, and swiftly fired Benitez in December 2010.

The club is on its sixth manager since then, with Roberto Mancini hoping to guide it back into Europe's premier competition for the first time since 2012.