With the new Serie A campaign on the horizon, Inter Milan fans are understandably excited about what lies ahead.
Building on last season’s title-winning campaign will take some doing, though, but owners Oaktree Capital and manager Simone Inzaghi are certainly capable of overseeing further improvement, particularly in the Champions League.
One of the most competitive domestic leagues around, the Italian top flight is shaping up nicely ahead of what promises to be another feast of football this season. When assessing the various pre-season previews and the football betting stakes, Inter Milan are understandable favourites, but there are no guarantees in such a fiercely competitive competition containing some of the most prestigious clubs in European football. As such, reinforcements are needed at Inter as the team looks to continually evolve under Inzaghi.
Should Inter conduct some shrewd transfer business this summer, then the title could be secured once again, but given the state of some of the club’s nearest rivals, it might be tougher than many fans and experts alike are predicting. I
nter, though, certainly possess enough quality to reign supreme in any competition they take part in, but it might not be as straightforward as it was last time around. In fact, a quick look around the league suggests that Inzaghi’s troops could face more of a challenge domestically this season.
Thiago Motta and Juventus could be dangerous
Following his evident success with Bologna last season, it didn’t surprise many to see Thiago Motta end up as the new manager of Juventus.
A potentially dangerous match, Motta and Juventus are expected to be right up there once again this season. Recent acquisitions in the shape of Michele Di Gregorio, Douglas Luiz, Khephren Thuram and Juan Cabal suggest that the Turin giants are intending to compete for major honours, although it might take some time for Motta to instil his way of playing at the club.
Should he succeed, though, then Juventus will surely be right in the mix, given the talent they possess within their ranks. Additionally, Motta knows what it takes over the course of what promises to be a gruelling campaign, with the former Inter Milan midfield general already showcasing his credentials as a manager despite his fairly limited experience in the role.
Legendary former Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci is certainly excited with what’s unfolding at Juve, with a more attacking style expected to be employed by their ambitious new manager.
Bonucci, who recently retired, said: “Staying away from Juventus, emotionally speaking, is impossible for me. It was and is part of my football faith and as part of my life as a footballer. Thiago Motta has a strong squad, one that has improved with the purchases made. He will entertain us and I hope he can return to fighting for the Scudetto, right from the start and until the very end. I am sure he will demonstrate his value. He has the hallmarks of a great coach.”
Conte’s Napoli will potentially be in the mix
Napoli are in desperate need of something or someone to spark their revival, and Antonio Conte could be it. The former Juventus and Inter manager will surely improve on Napoli’s tenth-place finish last season, with his understanding of the league and his ability to get the very best out of his players something Napoli could really reap the rewards from.
After all, Conte has a proven record of success in Italian football. He clearly knows what it takes to come out on top over the course of an entire season in Italy’s top flight.
Already, Napoli are looking stronger on paper currently than they were at the end of the season. The signings of Leonardo Spinazzola, Alessandro Buongiorno, and Rafa Marin are clever pieces of business, while Conte’s attack-minded approach should go down well with the Napoli faithful.
Whether or not Napoli will be in contention for the title with Inter remains uncertain, but stranger things have happened in football. Right now, though, they’re certainly a far more dangerous proposition with the Juventus legend at the helm. Appointing Conte could essentially be the game-changer that the former champions so desperately needed.
Milan will look to go again
While it can’t have been easy to see their fiercest rivals romp their way to the Serie A title in the manner that Inter Milan did last season, even the staunchest of AC Milan fans will understand that a new season is essentially a clean slate for their players.
As such, while Inter Milan are clearly capable doing something similar this time around, the hunger from their rivals could make things trickier.
Milan will certainly be using the disappointment from last season to fuel a revival this time around, with fans, players, and the club’s hierarchy surely desperate to see them finish at the top of the tree this season.
Now, with a clean slate and a new campaign to tackle, many expect Milan to be a more formidable opponent. Although the squad needs some new additions to bring an even fresher look to the team, Milan should conduct some big business in the coming weeks.
Should they get the players they want, then there is no reason why AC Milan can’t be a Scudetto contender this season, although new manager Paulo Fonseca has a big job on his hands, given the expectations at the club.
Milan appointed Fonseca as head coach on a three-year contract in early June. He has replaced Stefano Pioli and comes with a strong reputation after guiding French side Lille to a fourth-place finish in Ligue 1 last season.
Fonseca has won the Portuguese Super Cup with Porto, the Cup of Portugal with Braga, as well as the Ukrainian Premier League with Shakhtar Donetsk three times in a row.
Should he manage to find the right formula at Milan, then they could fare a lot better than many are expecting.
