Inter found themselves in Coppa Italia and league action this week with a semi final date with Juventus in the calendar before a trip to Fiorentina.

A massive tie at San Siro went the way of Juventus on their return to the Meazza seeking revenge for their league defeat less than a fortnight earlier.

A double for Cristiano Ronaldo saw off the Nerazzuri, leaving them a tough ask to qualify for the final with the return leg being at the Allianz Stadium.

Inter responded gallantly with a morale boosting 2-0 win over Fiorentina at the Artemio Franchi, thanks to goals from Nicole Barella and Ivan Perisic.

This is what we learned this week from those two fixtures for Internazionale.

1. Juventus Defeat A Morale Crusher

Juventus bounced back from a disappointing defeat on their last trip to San Siro to down Inter and leave them needing a win at the Allianz to go through.

Inter’s classic so neat yet so far mentality was truly on show as The Old Lady emerged with a deserved win and Inter sat wondering if a chance at silverware has evaded them.

Although the Coppa isn’t everything, it is still silverware and to an extent the result puts a dampener on their win over Juventus just less than a fortnight earlier.

Being beaten in a clutch game against a side who has clutch in their DNA is frustrating and Conte will rue this if they don’t win the second leg.

Where was ‘Mr. Clutch’ Danilo D’Ambrosio when we needed him most?!

2. Nicola Barella & Achraf Hakimi Are Unsellable

Since the arrival of Romelu Lukaku, the Belgian has been seen as the side’s truly world class talent.

It now appears that Nicole Barella and Achraf Hakimi can now be counted as being on that level.

Their recent performances have been nothing short of outstanding.

Barella has been playing like a player years his senior. Organising, box to box and tenacious. Barella is proving that he is the real deal. There is simply no better central midfielder than him in Serie A right now.

Hakimi is simply super human. His pace makes him absolutely frightening. His attacking presence makes him the side’s best out ball and his assist and goal stats rank him as the best in Europe in his position.

Let us toast that Inter have players capable of getting into pretty much any side in Europe. It’s been a long while since that has happened.

3. Andrea Pinamonti Completely Lost In The Shuffle

Friday’s game was a perfect opportunity for Andrea Pinamonti to get game time.

The match was won with twenty minutes to go, Lukaku looked tired and in need of a rest so why did it take until minute 87 to put on the Primavera product?

Inter simply cannot play without Lukaku so why not play someone who could potentially make a go of replacing him from time to time?

The former Frosinone man has been given little to no chance to prove he has anything to offer the side which seems unfair.

If this continues, he needs out in the summer.

4. Matteo Darmian Must Start On The Left

This may seem a strong claim to some given that he isn’t a pure wing back in the sense that he isn’t overly strong in the final third.

However, Matteo Darmian is the only wing back in Inter’s squad (bar Achraf) that is capable of being dependable.

Ashley Young looks spent and his error on Tuesday night against Juve proved that he isn’t a long term option.

Ivan Perisic looks a shadow of the player he was under Spaletti and that version of Perisic wasn’t even that good.

Darmian is almost an opposite of Hakimi and yes he does struggle more going forward but he looks much sharper than the aforementioned two.

A run of starts and the bargain signing from Parma could cement a place in the XI.

5. Financial Woes A Real Concern

Inter’s financial situation remains a real uncertainty but rumours circulating about the lack of money in Suning’s pockets is a real worry.

The Chinese firm have largely been a breath of fresh air but a lack of Champions League knockout action and the impact of coronavirus appears to have pulled on their pursestrings.

If Inter are to return to the trophy laden years of the mid to late 2000s, investment is needed to satisfy their big spending project.

More will become clear over the coming weeks and months but this situation looks bleak if rumours are to be believed.

Hopefully, Suning can get some backing to lead us out of this post covid economy.