Why Inter Milan shouldn’t be hitting the panic button (yet)

Inter crossed off every need on their checklist during the mercato this summer. So why are the Nerazzurri off to one of the worst starts in Serie A this season?

Inter Milan “won the transfer window.” That was a common theme from many pundits of Italian soccer before the season started two weeks ago. So why do they have one point after two games?

One reason for Inter’s struggles may be due to the fact that they played their two “bogey teams” right out of the gate. Both Sassuolo and Torino have given Inter hell in recent years. Inter have been especially poor when facing Sassuolo, losing six of the previous eight matches against the club.

In terms of last season, Inter earned a whopping two points from a possible twelve against these two clubs. The Nerazzurri would have likely been no worse off had they opened the 2018-19 season with Juventus and Napoli.

Another cause for Inter’s inauspicious start is the fact that manager Luciano Spalletti has yet to field his desired lineup. Many players are suffering from World Cup hangover or returning from injury.

Of the players who have made it on the field in the first two weeks, few have looked to be in good form. Mauro Icardi, Marcelo Brozovic, Miranda, and Samir Handanovic must all improve their play if Inter are to live up to the lofty expectations placed on them by many Serie A experts.

To be fair, Inter looked great over the first 45 minutes against Torino, coasting into the half with a comfortable 2-0 lead. Spalletti surprised everyone by lining the squad up in a 3-4-3 as opposed to the traditional 4-2-3-1, and it served him well.

Torino manager Walter Mazzarri made the necessary adjustments for the second half, something Inter were never able to do as the match progressed. Inter were stuck in second gear and couldn’t get out. As a result, they squandered a certain victory and important three points.

Inter tried to absorb the pressure being applied by Torino and surprise them with a quick counter-attack. Inter is not built for this style of play. It was clear they were going to concede if things continued down this path.

Then, in the 56th minute, Handanovic made one of the most bizarre goalkeeping decisions of his career, resulting in an open net and easy score for Andrea Belotti, a player who certainly needs no such assistance. The predictable equalizer would fall shortly thereafter from Soualiho Meite.

In the season-opener against Sassuolo, Inter were missing several players from what many predict will be their regular starting XI. Additionally, the condition of the field at the Mapei Stadium was in atrocious shape and not suitable for a match in one of Europe’s most prestigious leagues.

The most basic of passes would visibly bounce off of the ground as if the ball was hitting rocks along the way, before (hopefully) reaching it’s destination. An unlucky penalty in the 27th minute would ultimately be Inter’s undoing.

From that point on, Sassoulo were content to sit back, kill time, and park a double decker bus in front of their goal that would have made Jose Mourinho grin from ear to ear.

Next up for Inter are Bologna. This is already being deemed a must-win game. Former Nerazzurri great Luis Suarez has proclaimed that Inter will be out of the Scudetto race after matchday 3 should they lose.

To make matters worse, it appears that Kwadwo Asamoah might miss the match this weekend. He has been one of the few bright spots for the club so far in this young season.

Sime Vrsaljko has fully recovered from his minor injury last weekend, and at long last it seems we will finally see the much-anticipated debut of Radja Nainggolan as Inter’s midfield enforcer.

When the chemistry issues have been sorted out, Spalletti’s squad will rise towards the top. Ivan Perisic looked brilliant in the first half against Torino. He simply needs to deliver that type of performance over 90 minutes.

Icardi has been a day late and a dollar short in front of the opposition’s goal thus far. His timing and aim are just slightly off at the moment. This happens to every center-forward at some point. As is always the case, this poor run of form will reverse itself soon enough.

Dalbert is rumored to start at full-back this weekend which means Inter will lineup in a 4-2-3-1. A back four of Dalbert, de Vrij, Skriniar, and Vrsaljko operating behind a double-pivot of Nainggolan and Brozovic could serve Inter well. The attack will be rounded out by Perisic, Vecino, Politano, and of course, Icardi out front.

Bologna is a winnable game. Themselves having been soundly defeated by SPAL on the opening matchday, only to follow up that effort with a lifeless draw against newly-promoted Frosinone.

With an international break on the horizon and because of the poor start, it is important for Inter to take the three points and the positive momentum into the two week layoff. When play resumes on Sept.16, Spalletti should have the entire squad at his disposal and the Inter we all thought we would see may finally be on display.

Lazio lost their first two games of the 2006-07 season and Juventus did the same in 2015-16. The former finished third in the league that season and the latter won the Scudetto. These are just two recent examples of how poor starts can be easily overcome over the course of a season.

All of Inter’s 2018-19 goals are still attainable and a win against Bologna could be the spark the team needs to get their season back on course.