Inter came from behind to pick up their first victory of the season on the road against Pescara last Sunday, a win which should silence the naysayers for one more week anyway. An early crisis has been averted thanks to Mauro Icardi, who scored two goals in the final 14 minutes to help the Nerazzurri avoid their first loss to Pescara in 38 years.
There are still a myriad of issues staring the club in the face but at least Inter have something to hang their hat on ahead of the Juventus clash this weekend. Here’s what we learned from Sunday:
1. Samir Handanovic Is Indispensable
Well, we already knew that but it’s worth reiterating. Handanovic’s intrinsic value to the squad cannot be measured in Euros. The Slovenian has been Inter’s best player over the last three years and Sunday proved to be another notch in his belt.
Inter was visibly shell-shocked after Pescara’s opener and basically asked their goalkeeper to hold the fort while they regained their bearings and he duly obliged by making a series of top-drawer saves to keep his side in the game.
There is no comeback without Handanovic’s heroics. The Nerazzurri have been blessed with a long line of talented goalkeepers over the last 30 years and Handanovic should be mentioned with the same reverence as Walter Zenga, Gianluca Pagliuca, Francesco Toldo and Julio Cesar.
2. Icardi Might Be Growing Up
The 23-year-old’s off the field baggage has weighed the team down at times but the Inter captain is starting to lead by example where it really matters the most. He didn’t hang his head after a few misses against Pescara but instead showed his steely resolve by saving the day for the Nerazzurri.
Icardi skillfully slid off his marker before rising the highest to send a glancing header into the bottom corner for the equalizer before pouncing on a deflected cross and blasting low past Albano Bizzarri for his 50th-career Serie A goal.
Icardi is off to a flying start with three goals in three games and let’s hope this is a harbinger for things to come for Inter as the Juve Killer sharpens his knives for the Derby d’Italia.
3. The Triple Substitution Really Works
The proof is in the pudding ladies and gents. Frank De Boer’s triple substitution was initially met with howls derision on social media – your author included – but the move changed the complexion and ultimately the outcome of the game and De Boer deserves the credit.
Ever Banega moved into a deep lying role and whipped in a picture-perfect delivery that Icardi headed home before sending in another cross that took a fortunate deflection off a Pescara player and straight into the path of Icardi.
Eder caused some problems with his pace and Rodrigo Palacio with his wits although he’s the one that could’ve received the plaudits if he didn’t waste a golden opportunity in front of goal. I will never mock the triple substitution ever again but hope it’s some time before De Boer has to pull that out of his back pocket again.
4. Joao Mario Looks The Part
It wasn’t a groundbreaking debut by any means but the Euro 2016 winner was calm, cool and collected. Some of his crosses left something to be desired but I thought he was an asset to the team on Sunday.
He didn’t capture the hearts of Nerrazzurri Nation by firing a rocket into the top corner like Alvaro Recoba did on his debut or seamlessly run the midfield like Wesley Sneijder in his baptism by fire in the Derby della Madonnina but the summer signing showed that he belongs in Serie A.
The €40-million man can further endear himself to Nerazzurri supporters by scoring against Juventus on the weekend. No pressure paisano.
5. Inter’s Fullbacks Need Fixing
It’s the glaring weak spot in the squad. Gone are the days of Maicon, Maxwell, and Javier Zanetti roaming the flanks. Inter are now stuck with the likes of Yugo Nagatomo and Danilo D’Ambrosio. How the mighty have fallen.
Pescara’s opener perfectly illustrates Inter’s woes at the position. D’Ambrosio is late getting back and he lets Jean-Christophe Bahebeck drift behind him with ease before misjudging the cross, leaving the Pescara forward an ample amount of room and space to volley home. Amateur hour.
A functioning fullback should be Inter’s top priority in January. The jury is still out on Cristian Ansaldi who has yet to make an appearance due to injury, but he is likely to be a band-aid solution to a much bigger problem.
Max De Luca is a journalist based in Toronto, Canada and has been published on Reuters, CBC, Yahoo, Goal, USA Today and many more. Starting today and every Wednesday, Max will pen a column exclusively for SempreInter.com discussing the most pressing topics of the day.
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