There were 19 points lost to mid/bottom of the table teams last season which resulted in the Nerazzurri finishing 7th in the league table, meaning no European Football to play for this current season and disappointed fans.
Out of these 19 points, 10 were “gifted” in home games at the San Siro. Now then it is clear the aim for this season is to get back into the UEFA Champions League (UCL), which has been made easier by the extra qualification slot granted to Serie A.
At the start of Pioli’s takeover it was looking more likely that the UCL or at least more Europa League Football could of been achieved in the last campaign but unfortunately the squad seemed to crumble under the pressure, highlighting those with weaker mentalities and so any hope was lost before Stefano Vecchi took the reigns for the second time (with no pressure) and ended the season with two convincing wins.
Now under Spalletti, with some new additions, the team looks far more mentally prepared for what will be a competitive year of Serie A in order to achieve at minimum a 4th place finish. This has been shown after beating Fiorentina, Roma and now SPAL with little struggle, which Inter hope will continue against Crotone on Saturday, in preparation for the Milan derby on October 15th.
“In Crotone, In April, Inter played: Handanovic between the poles, D’Ambrosio, Murillo, Miranda and Ansaldi protecting him, Medel and Kondogbia just in front of the defence and Candreva, Banega and Perisic just behind Icardi – recalls La Gazzetta dello Sport – on Saturday, half of the team will be changed, with only the goalkeeper, D’Ambrosio, Miranda and the three ahead confirmed. A new Inter, in terms of players has been made (most likely Skriniar, Vecino, Borja Valero, Dalbert and then one between Joao Mario and Gagliardini), other than mentality, discipline and game organisation. In short, Spalletti is the factor of hope for the Nerazzurri fans who are already dreaming of getting to the derby with a lot of points on the table, perhaps maximum: already because they face only Crotone, Bologna, Genoa and Benevento who are all compulsory wins towards the Champions League dream.”
