Inter, Inzaghi sacked? From Chivu to De Zerbi, the next coach

The tenth defeat in 28 championship days, the prospect of not entering the top four in the championship and the nightmare of experiencing a season finale with the same results as last month, lead the Inter management to reflect not only on future, but also on the present of Simone Inzaghi on the Nerazzurri bench. The hope in viale della Liberazione is that the coach will definitively reverse course already on Tuesday in Turin, in the first leg of the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia against Juventus, but the indications of the last few weeks are bad and so, in addition to reflecting on the name of the substitute to be placed at the helm of the group next season, it is inevitable to study an emergency plan to be implemented between the two matches of the quarter-finals of the Champions League or after the second match against Benfica, in the event of Euro-elimination. To try to save what can be saved in the last abundant month that would remain.

Marotta right away

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Given that at the moment Marotta, Ausilio and Baccin are perplexed by the turn the situation has taken, by the repetition of certain mistakes, sills and in defence, by the wrong attitudes on the pitch and by the lack of reaction every time the team goes in score, executives must “do” executives. This morning they went to the Pinetina to watch training divided into groups (Dimarco worked with moderate intensity and will be available on Tuesday evening; Skriniar ran on the pitch: he can be called up in Salerno or Lisbon) and to have lunch with Inzaghi. No trials (by now…), nothing different than usual: they analyzed the defeat with the coach and above all how to move forward now, avoiding the third defeat out of three against Juventus this season. A turnaround is needed, but Marotta, Ausilio and Baccin have been asking Inzaghi, his staff and the locker room for months without success. This is why, while hoping that in Turin “something” will click in the team’s mind, exactly like on April 3, 2022 when the statement signed by Calhanoglu ended a delicate moment and gave the push towards an important final (but without the Scudetto.. .), they have to reflect on what to do if there are as many negative results in the next three games. Playing every three days, it’s difficult to think about a change of coach, at least before the first leg against Benfica on Tuesday 11th. If, on the other hand, things go badly (or very badly) at Da Luz, it’s impossible to rule out an earthquake in advance. Let’s repeat, it’s not in the CEO’s DNA. Marotta, but which at that point could be the only way to put the boat back on the waterline. We are of course talking about a ferryman, a coach who would guide Lautaro and his teammates until the end of the season: Chivu, the Primavera coach, is an option; Cambiasso pulled himself out; Zenga a solution dictated above all by his love for Inter. But would he too agree to get involved for a handful of matches without having certainties (far from it…) about staying in 2023-24? That’s why ending 2022-23 with Inzaghi on the bench would be the simplest solution. But the next 270 minutes will decide.

Champions and… De Zerbi

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Simone has the possibility of keeping Inter only by finishing in the top four in Serie A and reaching the Champions League final in Istanbul. Otherwise his path and that of Inter will separate a year before the expiry of the contract. The big favorite to lead the nerazzurri next year is Roberto De Zerbi, under contract with Brighton: he is the favorite of Marotta, Ausilio and Baccin. The latter has already worked with Roberto in Palermo, while the sports director had tested the ground after Conte’s farewell, when De Zerbi signed with Shakhtar. To free the Brescian, a penalty must be paid to the English club and some competition must be won: Tottenham, who are thinking of the return of Pochettino and who also have other options (Nagelsmann and Thomas Frank), follow the former Sassuolo who Italy is in Roma’s sights if Mourinho won’t stay. Other solutions? Thiago Motta, who has not yet renewed until 2025 with Bologna. Antonio Conte is a guarantee, a serial winner, but after the breakup in 2021 can he really return to Pinetina? Then, after two seasons of tensions with the management (still present), he did not accept the economic downsizing requested by the company and said goodbye by collecting a gross 14.5 million severance pay. Suning certainly cannot resume investing like in 2019, when he signed him for the first time. Either Conte returns to metabolizing the new project without champions to buy on the market (but in this case would he be the “real” Conte?) or… And then there is the Simeone option, but only if the Argentine terminates the contract with Atletico Madrid. The Cholo he has never made a secret of his desire to lead Inter, certainly not with the current salary of 22 million euros net… Football or fantasy football?