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For fans across the globe, Serie A has always been a league where tactics have prevailed over the beautiful style of play. Mental strength is the key component rather than a player’s attacking skill and prowess. One such club which defines the epitome of strength and mental toughness is the Italian powerhouse, Inter Milan. Not so long ago, the Italian giants were crowned as the “European Champions” but that seems to be a distant memory, if not a forgotten one.
The Nerazzurris finished their recent campaign in a disappointing 9th place and the displeasure of the supporters was heard loud and clear in their final game of the season, where they were duped 2-5 by the visiting Juventus. The Italian powerhouse have failed to build on the ‘treble’ brought to the club by the charismatic Jose Mourinho, and are yet to win any silverware since their feat at the Club World Cup three years ago.
Over the years, we have spoken about ‘stability’ being the key to the progress of any club and that is exactly what Inter are devoid off. Having sacked 3 managers in as many seasons, Moratti’s decision to appoint the in-experienced Andrea Stramaccioni on a permanent basis was baffling, given the fact that the young Italian was in the infancy of his managing career. Hiring a rookie manager for a club that is going through a transitional period was a futile idea and what followed was inevitable.
Stramaccioni looked clueless for major part of the campaign, sacrificing solidity for an attacking brand of football, which resulted in dressing room squabbles that had an immediate effect on the dynamics of the club.With the departure of Wesley Sneijder to Galatasaray, Inter lost their lynchpin and his proxy Ricardo Alvarez has failed to replicate the performances of the Dutchman. In all fairness, replacing their ‘Rock of Gibraltar’ Lucio, was never going to be easy and the defensive frailties of Ranocchia and Juan were exposed time and again with Inter leaking goals at will. To be fair to Stramaccioni, injuries haven’t helped his cause either, with prolific striker Diego Milito and influential club captain, Javier Zanetti spending majority of the campaign on the sidelines.
Having said that, another year without Champions League football is unacceptable for a club of Inter’s stature, and Moratti must act briskly if he wants to turn around the fortunes of his most prized asset. With a number of high profile candidates available during the summer, including former boss Roberto Mancini, Moratti has a plethora of options to choose from should he decide to axe the Italian. One thing is for sure, its not over till it is over. Watch out for this space !
