Inter still have a lot of work to do if they are to arrive at the start of the Serie A season in less than a week in the right shape.
This according to today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, who report that the problems that the Nerazzurri have faced in preseason have exposed how much work is still to be done on defensive compactness and physical conditioning.
The Nerazzurri have shown many positive signs in their preseason, but the overwhelming theme has been the defensive problems which have seen them concede ten goals across five friendlies.
This is partly down to a lack of fitness and match-sharpness from the defenders who returned to training late, particularly Milan Skriniar who came back from a muscle injury, and the team as a whole.
It is also down to the fact that the team have consistently appeared to be a step or two off of the tactical coherency that they showed last season, not pressing as compactly as they’ve needed to and giving opponents space to exploit.
If the Nerazzurri continue to play like this when the competitive action starts it will almost certainly cause serious problems for them, and so the next week will be decisive to getting both the physical conditioning and tactical preparations up to the necessary level.
