Something is wrong. Not wrong in the way that things will be getting better soon, and certainly not wrong in the way that Marco Branca suggested – claiming that the team lost concentration. A 3-1 loss away to Catania is not an accident, and it is not – on recent form – an aberration, it is a worrying sign that Inter seem to be losing it, and that their coach has not got the answers to the problems that have appeared in the last month.
Inter now top the league by just one point from Milan, a team that they have dispatched easily twice this season. Quite what has gone wrong with the side is anyone’s guess, but what we do know is that Milan and Roma, two teams whose respective title challenges seemed dead and buried earlier in the season, have both dragged themselves back into the Scudetto race. The key contributor to this has been the form of the Nerazzurri, because Inter were once miles ahead in the title race, and it is their inconsistency, not brilliance from other teams that has turned a procession into a scrap.
One thing is for sure, if la Beneamata lose to Chelsea on Tuesday and then fail to win away to Palermo next weekend, Jose Mourinho’s side will find themselves not only out of the Champions League(in the first knockout round again) but also knocked of the top spot in Serie A for the first time in a long time. This eventuality would, of course, bring more questions about the future of Mourinho, but instead of seeming far-fetched, this time they would be legitimate, and possibly even sensible.
The truth is, Mourinho’s antics are only tolerable when the team is winning. If the Nerazzurri are collecting titles then the eccentricities of the coach are seen as a mere sideshow, an amusing footnote in the continued success of the club. But if they are not winning then his constant posturing and argumentative nature are an annoyance, and one that could well be adversely affecting the team. Mourinho seems to be on a mission to upset more people in one season than any manager has ever managed before, and is setting the bar very high for future pretenders to his throne. Arrogant in victory and churlish in defeat, it is getting to the point where even the blue and black half of Milan would not be sad to see their coach leave.
Onto the subject of Tuesday’s game, which will currently have Inter fans worrying about the ability of their team to withstand what could well be an onslaught from a Chelsea side spearheaded by the ever-dangerous Didier Drogba. If Catania’s attack worried Lucio and Co then they have seen nothing yet, and they do not have the incentive of a packed crowd in the Giuseppe Meazza to spur them on to victory this time. Added to which, the expected decision to leave Mario Balotelli out of the squad to travel to London despite the fact he is fit seems like madness. For all his troubles, the striker has the potential to add that extra element of unpredictability to the Inter attack that Diego Milito and Samuel Eto’o – whilst being great strikers – do not have.
Despite their 2-1 lead, it is difficult to see Inter progressing in the Champions League. Yes, it is true that Chelsea have also been struggling with form lately, and that nobody knows the London club like their former manager, but Mourinho-managed teams tend to play in a cautious manner, and this will likely afford Chelsea more possession and territory than they were afforded in Italy. Bravado aside, Mourinho should be very worried about the tie, and, should they lose, he will once again find himself with the blues.
Inter Club Focus 2009/10
Pre-season
Another Scudetto for the Nerazzurri? – August 18, 2009
Week 1
A stuttering start, and a Portuguese explosion – August 25, 2009
Week 2
It’s derby time – August 28, 2009
A wonderful derby but the champions of Europe are waiting – September 1, 2009
All is well for la Beneamata – September 4, 2009
International week (Georgia-Italy, Italy-Bulgaria)
Friendlies, injuries and stolen boots… – September 7, 2009
Week 3
Nerazzurri look to the future as Ibra looks back – September 11, 2009
Inter get a point, but that’s not the point – September 18, 2009
Week 4
They never had a problem with ugly wins – September 22, 2009
Week 5
Partenopei are beaten Black and Blue – September 25, 2009
Week 6
Blucerchiati run rings round Inter – September 29, 2009
Champions League? You’re having a laugh – October 2, 2009
Week 7
I’d rather be lucky than good – October 6, 2009
The international break – October 6, 2009
International Week (Republic of Ireland-Italy, Italy-Cyprus)
Transfer Talk – October 13, 2009
Back to Genova – October 16, 2009
Week 8
The Puzzle continues – October 20, 2009
Week 9
What next? – October 23, 2009
Papering over the cracks – October 27, 2009
Week 10
The pressure is on as Inter almost throw it away against Palermo – October 30, 2009
Week 11
Judgement day awaits – November 3, 2009
Just in time – November 6, 2009
Week 12
A draw with Roma, but things look good – November 10, 2009
Week 13
Back to the day job – November 20, 2009
A Messi situation – November 24, 2009
It was embarrassing – November 27, 2009
Week 14
José gets ruffled – December 1, 2009
Week 15
Derby d’Italia – December 4, 2009
It could be worse – December 8, 2009
Week 16
Disaster averted – December 11, 2009
A missed opportunity? More for them than us – December 11, 2009
Week 17
Resolutions – December 18, 2009
How do you solve a problem like Mourinho [does]? – December 22, 2009
Winter break
Grazie Marco – December 29, 2009
Inter transfer rumours beaten black and blue – January 5, 2010
Week 18
Mario Balotelli, hero and villain – January 8, 2010
Wesley Sneijder: the human get-out-of-jail-free card – January 12, 2010
Week 19
A potentially beastly decision – January 15, 2010
Week 20
Bari wasn’t great, Milan must be better – January 19, 2010
Week 21
Derby della Madonnina and Jermaine Jenas? – January 22, 2010
Inter show why they are the champions of Milan – January 26, 2010
A derby win, a semi-final, and disciplinary charges. Just another quiet week for Mourinho – January 29, 2010
Week 22
Snow game this weekend – February 2, 2010
Week 23
Coppa win and Gerrard in? – February 5, 2010
The Goran Pandev show – February 9, 2010
Week 24
Nine points clear – February 12, 2010
Week 25
Mourinho and Chelsea – February 16, 2010
Mourinho needs league form fast – February 19, 2010
Seriously José, what’s going on? – February 23, 2010
Week 26
It’s in your own hands now – February 26, 2010
Week 27
Worry about yourself, not your rivals – March 5, 2010
Who is to blame for the Nerazzurri’s struggles? – March 13, 2010
Week 28
It could be a very bad week – March 16, 2010
