Italian journalist Mario Sconcerti believes that Inter would be one of the most formidable teams on the continent if they were to find more consistency, especially with respect to their finishing.

Speaking to Italian broadcaster TWM Radio, Sconcerti suggested that the Nerazzurri would bring themselves to the level of one of the top eight sides in Europe if they could match their level of quality with more consistent execution.

There is little doubt that when Inter are on form they play a positive and effective brand of football, and even after the losses of Romelu Lukaku and Achraf Hakimi in the summer the overall quality of the squad remains very high.

However, the team have looked unable to get results in key matches at times, squandering good chances or not quite having the right balance to see out games.

Sconcerti is of the view that this lack of consistency keeps Simone Inzaghi’s men outside of the elite bracket at the top of the European game, but that the quality is all there.

“Maybe Inter gave me more of the feeling of a team with more solid foundations,” he stated after yesterday’s derby draw against AC Milan. “They are still the champion of Italy. The seven-point gap between the two teams was absolutely not apparent.”

“Milan have experienced consistent form,” he went on, “Inter have gotten three draws at the start of the season, in a league where you have to start fast. Inter have this characteristic, they find it easy to create good chances, like when they were close to a second goal several times. If they also had consistency they would be among the top eight teams in Europe.”