In his regular Wednesday column Inter fanatic Sam Olsen will be delving deep into the stories that matter to Inter’s fans looking to keep the spirit of discussion and dispute alive and well on the pages of Sempreinter.com. New Zealander Sam has published several books on military history as well as contributing to a number of sport and news related websites. His love for Inter began in 1997 watching Ronaldo waltz through confused defences in the famous blue and black, and he has enjoyed the roller coaster ride ever since. His favourite moment was watching the team lift the Coppa Italia in 04-05 with Mancini, breaking the long domestic trophy drought, while his favourite player is Javier Zanetti, the great one, who encompasses everything good and right about the club.
As I sat, languishing in a state of semi disbelief that lady luck had not just abandoned Inter in their 1-2 loss against a bonafide bogey team of late, Atalanta, but trampled all over her on the way out the door in a match that included a near miraculous four post or crossbar strikes for the home side, I could not help but think of how things had changed and stayed the same since I first started watching the club back in the dark days of 1997. Back then the club was a byword for underachievers, considered a big club with big players but refusing to live up to the title with any real on-field success. The late 90’s and early 2000’s were marked by regular changes in management, personnel and tactics and saw a number of near misses and humiliating results. Despite this roller coaster, most fans held belief that the potential was in place it just needed someone to mould it into a singular, united form.
That person, as all Nerazzurri faithful know, was Roberto Mancini, a man who belied his lack of experience in management with a grim determination, complete faith in his own abilities and a renowned lack of regard for egos or reputation. It was exactly the type of management Inter needed with their squad built on individualism and lacking the cohesion when the going got tough in a title chase. The problems were perhaps best illustrated by the Massimo Moratti himself, the clubs biggest fan and well known as someone who would blame the manager over the players which gave them perhaps too much power. Mancini looked past all this, he bought iron discipline to the squad and moulded them into a team. The rest is history, five Serie A titles in a row, four Coppa Italia, four Italian Super Cups, one FIFA Club World Cup and the crown on the pile, the 2009/10 Champions League, unparalleled success for a team that were mocked less than a decade earlier as pretenders and chokers. It is amazing how things can change in such a short time.
Like the saying goes however, what goes up must come down and Inter did just that, with a speed no one could have believed possible as they stood on the sodden turf of the Santiago Bernabeu, tears streaming freely down cheeks, cherishing each moment that had taken them to this point. Mourinho, the architect of the famous triumph departed almost immediately afterwards, the club had lost its icon. Manager after manager came and went after this with mixed results and new economic constraints were introduced forcing the departure of many champions who were replaced by pretenders causing the team’s form to suffer on the field. Today, as the team fight 90’s style for a place in the top five to secure a spot in Europe’s second table those of us who remember the dark days of the 90’s and early 00’s can only shake our heads and wonder how we got back to this point so quickly. As the last of those champions who allowed us to beat our chests with pride from the glory they bought to the club prepare to depart, the Zanetti’s, Cambiasso’s and Milito’s, we can only hope that we are not due for another prolonged period of pain; that the lessons of those dark days have been learned and will not be repeated.
Here are perhaps a few things that the club can do to ensure that a bright future awaits.
Get to grip with the new economic reality: The teams that can adjust their business model and structure to the regulations of Financial Fair Play will emerge in front; those that don’t will soon find themselves falling further and further behind. The days of Inter being able to purchase the world’s top players are for now behind us. Inter need to clean house, as they appear to be doing, by getting wages under control and start buying smarter.
Trust in youth: Inter has a notorious record when it comes to bringing youth into the team. This has to change. Inter can no longer afford to buy ready made superstars and will need to start identifying and developing them at home. Our academy is one of the best in Europe but managers so far have not been brave enough to risk their positions on potential, constantly falling back on experience even if it is unfounded (see Rocchi). Young players are inconsistent by nature and will have bad games but the club has to be able to identify players with potential to be great and give them the confidence to make mistakes otherwise they simply will not be able to make the jump.
Find a manager that suits the club’s beliefs and stick with him: Every club wishes they could have a Sir Alex Ferguson walk into their office and stay for 20 years winning piles of trophies along the way but it simply doesn’t happen. Inter however; have been notorious for its impatience with managers. Players thrive in environments where they have consistency and routines, Inter must provide this by trying to get continuity in the manager’s seat. Mancini often talks of three to four year cycles and Inter must think the same way, stability is a key to gaining good results.
Utilise the advantages of being Inter: There are many things working in Inter’s favour when it comes to recruitment but two important ones are that it is a big club that quality players want to come to; and it has a massive profile in South America, particularly Argentina which gives it prime position when recruiting from there. Inter must use these advantages to the maximum if they are to get back on par with Europe’s top clubs. Italy does not have the visa restrictions that England in particular does meaning that they can potentially secure South American players for much lower fees. Many clubs in Italy are already doing these things such as Udinese and Lazio. With their profile it is time for Inter to get to the head of the pack and become the first destination for top young South American talent.
For those of us who were lucky, or unlucky, enough to go through the difficult, yet strangely entertaining in an Inter kind of way, days of the late 90’s and early 00’s the situation we are going through now is more a return to the days of Pazza Inter rather than something completely unknown. With a new owner and management in place it will be interesting to see which way the club will move over the coming seasons. Those are my thoughts for bringing back success for the club keeping in mind the restrictions of FFP, I would love to hear others!
