Inter played three games in the month of March, against tough opponents like league-title chasing Napoli followed by a trip to Sampdoria,who are(were) the 2nd strongest team at home in all of Italy. To close the month out Inter faced a Hellas that was trying their best to avoid relegation and were definitely going to park the bus. Even the most optimistic of Interisti would not have expected a month where the Nerazzurri would concede zero goals and score 8, grabbing 7 out of 9 points that were on offer.
The reason Inter had a marvelous March, was mainly down to two men, one of them being Capitano Mauro Icardi. Mauro had not scored since the away game against Fiorentina which was followed by the winter break and an injury that kept him out of contention in February. He returned to the starting lineup against Napoli and looked a bit rusty.
A striker lives for the goals he scores and the hunger was on display at the Luigi Ferraris where he emphatically returned to form with 4 goals. It was the sort of game where he could have scored more goals had he not been subbed off. That back-heel goal was special, but the scissor kick was even better. This stadium has not been kind to him in the past but there was some applause as he walked off. Maurito was on a roll and when he scores in one match, he carries it to the next game. That showed at home against Verona where it took 37 seconds for him to put Inter in the lead and well on the way to 3 points.
Joining him at the top for the third consecutive month as SempreInter.com’s Player of the Month is none other than Milan Skriniar. Skriniar had ended February with a goal against Benevento that brought Inter playing to winning ways. He wasnt done yet.
Against Napoli was probably one of his best performances as he stopped one of the most lethal attacks in Europe and came within inches of scoring and beating them. This was followed by another perfect performance against his previous club Sampdoria. At his familiar hunting ground he didn’t misplace a single pass as Inter destroyed their home record in 90 minutes. Quagliarella and Zapata were out muscled and out-thought. Against Verona too, he was at least 2 seconds quicker than his opponents in every move. Such strength and tactical ability is unheard of at his age. Easily the signing of the season in all of Italy.
One of Spalletti’s master strokes in March has been Marcelo Brozovic. After that substitution and subsequent sarcastic applause against Bologna, it seemed that his time at the San Siro was over. Not if Luciano Spalletti was to be believed. Brozo played each and every minute this month. Against Napoli there was some positive signs of revival. That was followed by an even better performance against Sampdoria where the partnership with Gagliardini looked better by the minute. His best came against Verona where he had the most touches and a fabulous assist to his compatriot Ivan Perisic.
Which helps us wrap this up with the welcome return to the top 3 of Ivan the terrible. His drop in form was very un-like him. For someone who scored a hat-trick against Chievo in December he looked like a shadow of himself until the Sampdoria game. In the middle there were 13 unfruitful performances which made a lot of us at SempreInter wonder. But after that header against Sampdoria he looks like a transformed individual. Suddenly the long balls played towards him send defenders rushing towards him. Quick thinking assists like the one after 37 seconds against Verona look like second nature. The low crosses are finding finishes. The deft touches are leading to goals. If he continues like this Inter will achieve what the club has set out to do.
Do you agree with the top 3? Any other player that has caught your eye?
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