Inter’s friendly matches during the World Cup break paint a more encouraging picture for the second part of the season than their summer ones had done for the first part.
This is the view in today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via FCInterNews, who argue that the Nerazzurri can take their performances in the five friendlies as a positive sign ahead of their return to Serie A action against Napoli on Wednesday.
Inter beat Gzira United 6-1 and Red Bull Salzburg 4-0 during their training retreat in Malta, before drawing 1-1 with Real Betis.
In the team’s final two friendlies, 2-0 and 1-0 wins against Reggina and Sassuolo respectively showcased a Nerazzurri side who look to be in fine form.
This is in contrast to the Nerazzurri’s preseason campaign during the summer.
Heading into the start of the season, Inter failed to win a single one of their friendlies.
More important than the result were some of the issues that were made clear in the performances.
The Nerazzurri struggled with defensive compactness in particular during their summer friendlies, and these issues did not subside during the start of the season.
The problems that affected Inter during their poor preseason were also on display in the five matches that the team have lost in Serie A so far this season.
Accordingly, Inter will hope that the opposite is true of the second part of the season, and that the confident and fluid displays of their winter friendlies is an indicator of how they will play when competitive action resumes.
