Italian journalist Mario Sconcerti feels that Inter are currently looking like a team without balance, and that they need to rediscover their identity as a unit.
Writing in his column in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Corriere della Sera, Sconcerti gave his thoughts on what is needed from this Nerazzurri team to get out of the tough period in which they find themselves.
Inter have shown flashes of their quality throughout the season, but even against easier opponents on paper and in matches that they’ve won, some issues have crept in to the way that they play.
This has related to the team’s ability to function as a coherent unit on both sides of the ball, attacking and defending in balancing without sacrificing either aspect.
There are a number of issues that seem to have contributed to this lack of compactness and coherency on the pitch, both individual and tactical, technical and related to fitness, but Sconcerti feels that getting back to playing as a team again will be key.
“Inter are without, they miss the best of both Barella and Brozovic, the absence of Perisic takes away even more speed,” he writes. “With a midfield that doesn’t come together, the defense is virtually always on the back foot defending a counter.”
“The defensive phase is unique and should involve no fewer than 6-7 players,” he continues. “That block is now missing. It’s also led in a rigid way. Bayern had two old-fashioned attacking midfielders, Muller and Sane, who were also flanked by Sane.”
“When they cut in centrally, who was there to mark them?” he poses. “They used the space as if the opponents weren’t even there, they managed to always get past opponents.”
“They need to defend as a team,” he adds. “Inter aren’t very good now, they need to learn to play as a team again and then they’ll find their defensive balance once again.”
