Before the Champions League opener against Bayern Munich, Inter Milan is in crisis. The 19-time Italian champion messed up the start of the season, which is not only evident from the lost derby against Milan. To the astonishment of many, the defensive is particularly vulnerable – traditionally actually Inter’s showpiece.
The season in Italy is only five matchdays old, but at Inter Milan the mood is in the basement. “Player Under Charge” the “Gazzetta dello Sport” overwrites its reckoning with the failed start of the “Nerazzurri”, who were considered one of the favorites for the championship title before the start of the season. The charges against him: a weak defence, out-of-form stars and a coach who struggles to find explanations for the current problems.
The 3-2 defeat in the derby at the weekend against AC Milan isn’t the only thing that’s putting pressure on the mood in the black and blue part of Milan. In all, there have been two defeats in the first five games of the season, the glorious FC Internazionale have started a season so poorly only three times in the past 20 years.
The problems on the defensive are considered to be the main cause of the stuttering start. Yes, defensive problems! At Inter! The club that catenaccio invented and has defined itself for decades primarily through formidable defensive work. They have already conceded eight goals, more than any other club in the top half of the table.
Inter’s defensive problems
The defensive trio of Milan Skriniar, Stefan de Vrij and Alessandro Bastoni was the basis for Inter’s championship title, then for cup victory and runner-up in the past two years. Now the defensive players, who have been so reliable so far, are collectively treating themselves to a form crisis.
Pars pro toto to watch the third goal in the derby. All three defensive stars stand around Rafael Leao in the penalty area, unsure, almost shy, they watch him put the ball from one foot to the other, run a few steps and then score the goal without much resistance. It hasn’t been that easy to score a goal against Inter for a long time.
Not only the fans and the sports press are puzzling over the reasons for the defensive crisis, which is unusual for the black-blue team – the coach is also having a hard time. Simone Inzaghi has whipped himself up over the defense problems: “As a coach, I’m also responsible for that”. So far, however, he has neither an explanation nor a solution ready.
Weaknesses in midfield too
For Skriniar, one of the most important leaders in the Inter team, the slump in form could possibly be explained with the aftermath of the unsuccessful transfer poker with Paris Saint Germain to explain. As a defensive alternative, Inzaghi only has Francesco Acerbi, newly brought in from Lazio, on the bench. Before the Champions League opener against Bayern Munich, the defensive problems for Inter come at the wrong time.
Mainly because leaders in other parts of the team are also weakening. First and foremost Nicolò Barella, celebrated as the new Lothar Matthäus in the championship year in Milan. In the derby at the weekend, Inzaghi took the usually so dynamic and dangerous national player off the field after just over an hour. Barella, who is popular with the fans because of his commitment, had not had any personal highlights up to that point.
At his side in midfield, former Hamburger and Leverkusen player Hakan Calhanoglu is also wobbling. With a bad pass in his own half, the 28-year-old standard specialist Milan served the 1: 1 – a “rookie mistake” judges the “Corriere dello Sport”.
What about DFB national player Robin Gosens?
encouragement? Could be Robin Gosen on the left wing. The German national player, who was brought from Bergamo last winter, has so far found it difficult to gain a foothold in Milan. Last season Ivan Perisic, who put in an outstanding season, stood in his way from his position. The Croatian has meanwhile joined Tottenham but Gosens has still not managed to earn a place in the starting XI.
Inzaghi, who really wanted the Gosens transfer, relies on Matteo Damian on the left, only intended as a backup at the start of the season. The training and game performances currently speak for the 32-year-old Italian and against Gosens.
Two hopefuls with a Bundesliga past
Two who still give hope at Inter are old acquaintances from the Bundesliga. The 36-year-old former Wolfsburg player Edin Dzeko only came on as a substitute in the derby, but provided new energy and the 2: 3 goal. Nevertheless, Inter sorely miss striker Romelu Lukaku, who was brought back in the summer. The Belgian is likely to be out for several more weeks with a muscle injury. Lukaku will definitely not be there against Bayern Munich.
The second Inter hopeful is 33-year-old Henrich Mchitarjan. So far, Inzaghi has only given the former Dortmunder short assignments. However, Mkhitaryan used his half hour in the derby to give Inter’s game at least a bit of structure and, together with Dzeko, to create a goal threat. According to “Gazzetta” still not enough for the Milanese to look forward to the Champions League start with hope. For Italy’s largest sports newspaper “il grande Bavaria” clear favorite.