At this point they will call the Smithsonians from the TV series Bones, with microscopes and scanners to analyze the scientific anomaly in nature represented by Inter 2024-25, at least at the beginning of the season: no because it is not humanly possible to waste so many opportunities in a match, repeatedly, and then go into psychoanalysis in the last 10 minutes and risk a draw or worse. At this point, what also happened against Venezia – or we should say ‘even’ with all due respect – is no longer a coincidence. And how could it be, having happened in 10 games out of 14 this season, practically excluding only Lecce, Atalanta (both in August), Red Star and Empoli. Finding the game and building remains the most difficult thing in football, and Inter have no problems with that, and no one like them in Italy, not even Atalanta and Lazio, the only other two with a comparable maneuver in terms of construction ability. This is why it is even more surprising where Inter is lacking, that is, that lack of wisdom in managing finals, something you would take for granted in a team fresh from the title and achieved as Inter did. An Inter that lacks the ferocity to materialize, getting lost in one pass or one finish too many, always looking for impeccable execution, and which at the same time panics in the final minutes.
Let’s now see what will be in what is the real crossroads of the year.
Because we certainly can’t talk about something decisive for a competition already in early November, but the Arsenal and Napoli double in five days is a turning point that Inter will not experience again until at least the direct elimination phase. Why is it a crossroads besides the obvious reasons?
Arsenal are because the way they have set up the Champions League, Inter just need not lose to feel like they are in the Round of 16, knowing then that they can afford a defeat between Leipzig, Monaco, Bayer Leverkusen and Sparta Prague.
And Napoli obviously because winning or drawing would change little, but losing would mean the risk of intimately accepting the idea of losing the title.
The choices against Venezia seem to presuppose a turnover against Arsenal, and we must be very careful because losing would mean wasting the draw obtained in Manchester.
Against Napoli you know that a barricaded team will arrive and will want to lure you into their half of the pitch and then hit you on the counterattack. The blow against Atalanta means that Antonio Conte will bring an even more attentive and aggressive team. Even excluding the post-Arsenal tiredness, will Inter have enough energy to develop their usual generous game, or given the importance of not losing, will it be better to favor cunning?
Morocco
