Inter must improve when it comes to games that preceded or succeeded a match in a cup competition according to a report in today’s print edition of Italian daily newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport.

Last season Inter failed to win six of the nine matches they played under these circumstances. There are many explanations of this including, but not limited to, the team’s inability to keep the tension high in close fought matches.

A year ago many of the Inter squad experienced the Champions League for the first time in their careers and this season they will have to make a leap in quality.

The players, especially Stefano Sensi, Nicolo Barella and Alessandro Bastoni, who debutted last year now have that added experience that can help them to grow.

Inter are due to play AC Milan in the Milan Derby on October 17 and four days later they will take on Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League group stage.

This will therefore be Inter’s first opportunity of the season to show an improvement compared to last season.