Inter played Lazio in the Coppa Italia Quarter Final in what was essentially a rematch of the fixture that granted Inter entrance into the Champions League in the final game of last years Serie A. Unfortunately this fixture ended differently than that played last season.
Spalletti fielded a 4-3-3 that consisted of Asamoah on the left, Skriniar and Miranda and D’Ambrosio. In the midfield line of three we saw a start of Gagliardini, Brozovic and Joao Mario and in the front three was Candreva on the left, Politano on the right and Icardi in the middle.
The problem with Inter’s recent slump is the fact that a large majority of key players are either injured or in a very serious slump especially Mauro Icardi. It has now become very evident that if Icardi is in a slump then Inter; as a whole follows their captain.
Whats important to note about this fixture is that Inter didn’t lose to Lazio they lost to their own demons. You can only miss so many clear cut, open net chances before it starts to take a psychological toll on you. On top of that when you see that your opposition is able to score such a lucky goal of a deflected ball it demoralizes you even more and it’s really beginning to show.
The psychological aspect is slowly starting to eat up at Inter and it’s starting to show in a lot of ways. The most evident way is the score line in of itself. Inter is a team that wins numerous games 1-0 and this is sustainable because their defence is so strong especially when both Skriniar and De Vrij are playing together. When those 1-0 games don’t come, logically it remains 0-0 and when a defence sees that their forwards aren’t producing they begin to slack off as well and that’s when the score lines inverse which is what we’ve been seeing from Inter against Torino and now against Lazio.
In conclusion, what Inter needs is for a player other than those already established to step up to the plate as a leader and fight for the jersey and not just fight for that specific moment and/or ball. Inter needs their players to see the big picture and understand that there is a light at the end of the tunnel but for this years Copa Italia, until next season.
