Italian journalist Paolo Condo finds it ironic that Inter are struggling in a completely topsy-turvy way since the return from the winter break compared to how they had at the start of the season.
Writing in his column in today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper La Repubblica, via FCInterNews, the journalist noted the significance of a Nerazzurri side who are looking well-equipped for their toughest matches and then faltering in the “easier” ones.
Early on in the season, Inter found their season put off track by losses against traditional rivals Lazio, AC Milan, and Roma, as well as a defeat away to then-high-flying Udinese.
A loss to Juventus in November suggested that the Nerazzurri still had not found the right formula for approaching the biggest matches in the league.
A statement win over league leaders Napoli in the first match back from the World Cup break suggested that the Nerazzurri were ready to put their struggles in big matches behind them.
So it has proved, with two wins over AC Milan, a victory over Atalanta, and a first-leg win over Porto seeing Inter come out on top in their toughest tests.
In contrast, however, dropped points against all of Monza, Empoli, Sampdoria, and Bologna in Serie A have seen the Nerazzurri’s ability to reliably see off the midtable sides from before the winter break completely evaporate.
“If at the start of the season Inter could never win the head-to-head matches, in 2023 they have completely the opposite problem – they’re brilliant against their strongest opponents (Napoli, Milan, Porto), but lacking focus in the matches that need them to really prepare for.”
“In these sorts of matches,” Condo writes, “the Nerazzurri never get switched-on, and it’s clear that the coach is the first one who’s failing to intervene.”
