George Lesses - Columns

The start of season 2004-2005 could not have come sooner. Roberto Mancini’s appointment as Inter coach and the acquisition of several new arrivals provided many talking points for the Nerazzurri faithful to consider over the summer break. The Olympics and consequent delayed start to the season only heightened the guessing games as to which players would feature in the starting eleven and prolonged many obsessive thoughts about the team’s potential.

Mancini’s first months in charge were by no means easy. His arrival at the club was slightly delayed and he had to contend with the late return of players who participated in Euro 2004, the Copa America and the Olympics. In the space of two months Mancini was expected to qualify for the Champions League against Basel, integrate new players into the squad and focus on the unenviable task of transforming an under performing and heavily criticised outfit for its stagnant and unattractive football.

Inter’s problems did not just stop at those already mentioned. For too many years the team relied on long hopeful balls to Vieri and great shortcomings came in the form of the team’s inability to play possession football and construct flowing attacking moves by quickly moving the ball, playing the ball at feet, using the flanks, getting to the byline and making defence splitting passes. Another problem was player psychology. Years of underachieving, a six year absence of silverware and 5 May 2001 had left their mark. In the face of adversity, when players were expected to step up and fight, some went missing or simply gave up.

INTER NEW BOYS
Questions surrounded many of Inter’s summer acquisitions. From the outset there was discontent at the number of former Lazio players that signed for the club. Veron arrived on loan from an unsuccessful stint of three seasons in England and his final season at Chelsea was interrupted by a six month injury lay-off. Some commentators suggested he was too injury prone, past his best and that Inter were three seasons too late in acquiring his services. Favalli came in to cover the problem position of left back but more than anything it seemed that Inter were just seeking a player that could offer some stability and perform consistently in that position. Mihajlovic’s arrival was questionable and many did not see him as being a useful addition given his age, lack of pace and poor disciplinary record. The signing of Davids was seen as a huge boost for the club and its midfield but there were whispers that his taking so long to choose a club was down to the fact that he was shopping for the best pay cheque and did not have a real allegiance or passion for Inter. Ze Maria was next to arrive and was viewed as a reserve for Captain Zanetti and Cambiasso replaced Almeyda but many considered him to be a fringe player who would not add quality to Inter’s midfield. Burdisso was the only player that arrived at a cost to Inter and for once Moratti should be complimented for conducting his acquisitions in a shrewd business like manner with the aim of attaining quality for as little cost as possible. Although it has to be said that for all of Moratti’s good decisions during the summer, his decision to exchange Cannavaro for Carini probably undermined all of his good work by significantly strengthening Juventus at the expense of his own club.

Week 1 – Chievo v Inter
The first match of the season was away to Chievo. Due to suspensions and injuries, Mancini was forced to start with the central defensive pairing of Materazzi and Mihajlovic. Surprisingly, Mancini also opted to start Adriano and Vieri together. What was most obvious in this encounter was that Inter was in the process of still trying to find its feet but in saying this it was evident the players were trying to implement Mancini’s game plan. At times there were misunderstandings and the team fell into old habits but it was clear the players were making genuine efforts to improve their game and become a better team. Twelve minutes into the match Inter took the lead through Stankovic who benefited from a Chievo defensive error and drove the ball into the roof of the net. Chievo then fought back and going into the halftime break Inter was trailing 2-1. Three minutes into the second half Adriano received a Vieri layoff and the Brazilian equalised with a thumping left foot drive taken from outside the box, making the score 2-2. Perhaps Inter was lucky to not concede a third goal as Franceschini’s volley hit the post but Vieri also missed chances and a 2-2 draw was a positive final result given the difficulties of past encounters with Chievo.

Week 2 – Inter v Palermo
Inter’s second match of the season was at home against Palermo. The Sicilians had a strong start with two goals being disallowed in the first twenty minutes. Inter also had their fair share of chances as first half efforts by Cruz, Stankovic and Adriano came close to giving Inter the lead. At the break the score was 0-0 but given the chances that fell to both teams in the first half it seemed unlikely the second half would remain scoreless.

Straight after the break Inter took the lead after Adriano met a perfect Ze Maria cross. The halftime break seemed to have worked wonders as Inter looked more lively with Pasquale running from left back to provide a sharp cross that just went by Adriano’s outstretched foot and van der Meyde’s angled drive from outside the penalty area which skimmed the woodwork. Palermo’s equaliser came rather embarrassingly as Zauli was allowed to dribble between three defenders near the byline and cutback to Toni who scored his second goal in as many games. Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of the conceded goal was that Inter looked so casual and complacent in challenging Zauli for the ball. A challenge could have been made as far back as the halfway line but ball and player marched unchallenged into Inter’s defence where it was evident that each department was expecting the other to do the hard work and put in a challenge. Pasquale’s casual run over to his left side was shocking and it came as little surprise when the ball found its way past Toldo.

At around the seventy minute mark of the match Martins came on for Cruz who had been disappointing and ineffective. Martins’ introduction had an instant impact as he managed to get into a scoring position following an Adriano cross but failed to get his turn and volley on target. Soon after, he ran onto a van der Meyde pass and was dragged back on the edge of the box by Biava who was Palermo’s last man. The referee gave a red card and by this time, many of the Nerazzurri faithful might have been asking why Cruz was selected ahead of Martins. In the space of only a handful of minutes on the pitch the Nigerian’s pace had led to a scoring opportunity and red card for the opposition. Adriano also smashed a shot against the crossbar from 30 meters but it was a case of too little to late and the Inter’s supporters were left to rue dropped points and a victory that had escaped their grasp.

Week 3 – Atalanta v Inter
The match against newly promoted Atalanta was by no means easy. Playing in Bergamo is always difficult and once again Inter’s defensive shortcomings led to the encounter being more difficult than it should have been. On his Serie A debut Burdisso made a weak back-pass that left Toldo stranded and allowed Budan to intercept and slot the ball home giving Atalanta a 1-0 lead. At the start of the second half Inter equalised with a Stankovic header and chances also fell to Emre, van der Meyde and Favalli. Recoba was the next to score after turning Albertini and in the same movement striking a finish into the far corner. With just over ten minutes remaining in the match, Inter’s inability to hold on to lead once again came into play as Pazzani equalised with six minutes of normal time to play. Looking at a third consecutive draw and further lost points it took an extraordinary Adriano goal to give Inter its first win of the season and a valuable three points. From the half-way line, the Brazilian sprinted and muscled Natali off the ball and advancing towards the edge of the penalty box hit a powerful drive that beat Taibi at his near post. There were claims for a foul on Natali but the referee would have been hard pressed to call a foul as it is most likely he was focusing on the shoulder to shoulder contact as opposed to the tackle Adriano made on Natali. Either way, the former player still had a great deal of work to do before shooting past Taibi and perhaps more than anything, it was his audacity in taking such a crack on goal that allowed Inter to snatch the winning goal and win the match with only a handful of remaining minutes.

Week 4 – Inter v Parma
Few expected Parma to be in such a precarious position at the start of this match. Prior to the match against Inter Gilardino had failed to score in all competitions and Parma had only a single point from three matches. Matches between Inter and Parma are usually entertaining encounters and this was no exception. When looking back on this match the most difficult thing to take is the manner in which Inter once again dropped vital points. Some might argue the Nerazzurri were lucky to earn a point but if there is one thing that was evident from this match, it was the fact that a struggling Vieri should have been sacrificed from the starting eleven so Martins could start alongside Adriano. Parma took the lead fifteen minutes into the match after Gilardino met a corner kick with an unstoppable and stunning volley. Going a goal down did not seem to spur the team into action and aside from Adriano, Inter looked harmless.
Martins’ introduction to the game brought much needed pace and liveliness to Inter’s attacking movements and with just under twenty minutes remaining he received a cross from van der Meyde and stroked home the equaliser from six yards. Following the goal there was an expectation that Inter would lift but two minutes later Parma once again took the lead through Marchionni, making the score 2-1. Staring into the face of their first defeat of the season, Inter started relentless attacks that lasted until the end of the match. With ten minutes remaining Recoba found space on the left flank and combined with Martins who struck a low drive past Frey to equalise and make the score 2-2. Inter pushed for a third goal which led to some desperate Parma defending: Martins headed wide, Materazzi hit the crossbar, Adriano failed to head on target from six yards following a Martins cross and Cordoba had an effort saved by Frey. When the final whistle came there was a sense of relief that Inter had salvaged a point but at the same time there was a feeling of frustration and disappointment at the fact the team only started playing after going behind and managed to drop further points.
Week 5 – Roma v Inter
If the match against Parma was exciting, the meeting between Inter and Roma was possibly the best of the season so far. Both teams attacked without reserve and had numerous scoring chances. Roma was the first to score after Inter conceded an early Montella goal. Towards the end of the first half De Rossi went unpunished as he crunched Martins in a tackle from behind, ensuring the Nigerian could no longer take part in the game. Davids came on for Martins and Recoba partnered Adriano in attack. A short time after Cambiasso met a Recoba cross and headed his first Inter goal making the score 1-1.

Six minutes into the second half Veron struck a shot that deflected off Mexes’ ankle into the Roma goal. With Roma looking shaky Inter pushed forward and Recoba added a third after running on to a Stankovic through ball and thumping a powerful left footed drive under the bar from a tight angle. At first it appeared Recoba had delayed and taken the ball too far but Chino’s shot was unstoppable and with a 3-1 lead Inter looked set for three points. The two goal cushion did not last very long as Totti stepped up and struck an unstoppable free kick which curled over the defensive wall and beat Toldo who was left in disbelief at the Roma Captain’s 100th Serie A goal. With fifteen minutes remaining, Roma’s comeback was complete when De Rossi struck from close range to make the score 3-3. Inter came close to a fourth goal after Adriano unleashed a free kick measured at 142km per hour that skimmed the crossbar but once again it was a case of vital points lost as the match ended 3-3.

Week 6 – Inter v Udinese
On any other weekend the story of this match would have been the way Inter disposed of a team that traditionally causes them difficulties. Udinese were gunning for a third consecutive victory at the Meazza but the questions at the end of this match were whether Inter was significantly stronger in comparison to past seasons or whether the difference was simply Adriano.

In the week before the match there was talk of Inter being Adriano-dependent and speculation regarding Toldo’s future as Inter’s starting keeper. On the eve of the match there was also an attempt by the media to make a story out of Adriano missing his flight from Brazil and only managing to arrive back in Italy on Saturday morning but in typical Mancini style, little was said before the match as the Inter coach preferred to let his players do the talking.

Inter had to do without the services of Recoba, Cruz and Martins due to injury but seven minutes into the match Udinese would have been wishing Adriano had stayed in Brazil as he curled an unstoppable free kick around the defensive wall from 30 meters, leaving De Sanctis to helplessly pick the ball out of the net. Four minutes later, Adriano struck again after running from the Inter penalty area and holding off the challenges of a couple of Udinese defenders before rifling a low drive past De Sanctis. Udinese struck back in the second half to make the score 2-1 but it was Vieri who scored his first goal from open play since 7 March and restored Inter’s two goal cushion. After holding off a challenge from Cribari, Vieri toe poked past De Sanctis to make the final score 3-1. The goal itself was unspectacular but the emotional scenes during his celebration and the fact the entire team hugged him for his 119th Serie A goal was special.

Week 7 – Milan v Inter
Milan warmed up for the derby with a 1-0 victory at the Meazza over Barcelona whilst Inter travelled to Spain and demolished Spanish champions Valencia 5-1. Prior to the match, talk of the town concerned the clash between two of the world’s best strikers in Adriano and Shevchenko with Milan being touted as Europe’s football capital. Contrary to expectations the Derby della Madonnina finished 0-0. Both teams had numerous chances and for the first time in several years Inter were able to prepare for the derby with growing confidence in the team’s ability and play against Milan on an equal footing. But most worrying of all is the fact that the derby result only managed to benefit Juventus who went five points clear in Serie A and eight points clear of Inter.

Week 8 – Lecce v Inter
This match closely followed a hard fought Milan derby. On paper the meeting between Lecce and Inter was a mismatch but a characteristic of Zemen’s teams, dating as far back as his days with Foggia in the early 90s is that they care very little for reputations and play a unique brand of attacking football.

Inter scored three minutes into the match and had several chances to build on that lead in the first ten minutes as Adriano struck his one-on-one effort too close to the keeper and van der Meyde also had a shot saved by Sicignano. Ten minutes into the match Inter’s supporters could have been forgiven for thinking they were going to see another party performance full of goals as the match was an open affair with both teams playing attacking football. But an ominous sign was the amount of space the Nerazzurri defence was conceding to Lecce. Thirty minutes into the match, Martins doubled Inter’s lead but the two goal cushion was short lived as Bojinov struck an unstoppable shot from outside the box that gave Leece hope before half-time. During the break, the team’s supporters would have been restless given the space Inter’s defence was conceding to their opponents and the numerous occasions Fontana saved Inter in the first half. If anything was clear following the first half, it was that the second half would be a real battle for Inter to maintain and build on their first half efforts.

The second half started brightly for Inter as Martins ran onto a Veron through ball and had his shot saved by the Leece keeper. Five minutes into the half, Bojinov equalised for Leece after Stankovic failed to close down Cassetti and Pasquale, whilst closely marking his own man, was only able to look on as a passenger. Cassetti passed to Bojinov in the box where Materazzi was unable to stay on his feet and Bojinov shot past Fontana to make the score 2-2.

The final minutes of the match saw Inter reassert some authority in their search for a match winning goal. Adriano wasted an excellent chance when he was left totally unmarked in the box and blasted over the crossbar. Also, Captain Zanetti went on one of his customary runs down the right side, stormed into the box and had a shot on goal which was deflected wide by a Lecce defender. The score finished 2-2 and for the second time this season, Inter gave up a two goal lead to draw the match.

WHAT LIES AHEAD
If one thing is obvious from the season so far, it is the fact that there are no easy matches in Serie A and the battle for the Scudetto is going to be long and difficult. The first eight weeks of the season have shown the newly promoted teams to be strong and competitive. Mancini has been able to drastically change the team and its style of play in a short space of time and his efforts are all the more miraculous given he is fielding what is practically a whole new midfield. There are many obvious positives that have come from his appointment as coach. Inter are no longer renowned for slow, incoherent and inconsistent play. The team plays with enthusiasm, looks to attack and fights for its results. Going behind to Chievo, Atalanta, Parma and Roma and fighting back to gain points from all of the aforementioned matches is testament to the team’s new fighting spirit. Veron has recovered from his injuries to become an essential figure in Inter’s midfield, van der Meyde’s Inter career has been resurrected and Cambiasso, initially thought to be a fringe player, is keeping Davids and Cristiano Zanetti out of the starting eleven.

But there is also a vulnerable side to the team as Inter have looked very shaky in defence and valuable points have been dropped as a result of defensive errors. What is most worrying about Mancini’s Inter is the team’s difficulties in controlling a match when defending a lead. Whereas Cuper’s Inter was capable of defending a lead for long periods, albeit very unattractively, Inter now play more attractive and attacking football but give away too much at the back. Regardless of wages, one cannot help but think the decision to offload Cannavaro to a direct Serie A rival whose defensive frailties were well documented last season was a mistake of mammoth proportions. Juventus now have the best defence in Italy marshalled by the Italian Captain. In eight games they have only conceded two goals whilst Inter have conceded twenty-two. The figures speak for themselves.

Another worry is the tendency to cover the team’s problems with excuses. How many times this season are Inter’s supporters going to hear: “We should have won”, “We played well”, “We created a lot of chances”, or “We still have time”? One can only hope there will not be a repeat of last season when Inter supporters were fed a smorgasbord of excuses and the team ended up finishing twenty-five points behind champions Milan. After Juventus’ midweek victory over Roma, Inter are ten points off the pace. Although there are thirty remaining matches in Serie A mistakes are more likely to come from Inter which is a team in the process of getting its game together as opposed to errors from its better organised rivals.

Time is perhaps the team’s best friend and worst enemy. Ally: in that the team has generally improved with every passing match. Foe: because implementing and adapting to a new style of play with new players will inevitably lead to dropped points. Most frustrating is not having much of an idea as to how things will stand at the end of the season. Thus far, Mancini has provided hope that great achievements may not be far away but hope does little to quell the anxiety of Inter’s supporters and their obsessive thoughts for a team that is at long last showing potential. For the moment, perhaps the best we can do is win our matches and hope that in the likelihood Juventus and Milan make mistakes, Inter will be well placed to benefit and take advantage. A good place to start would be in this evening’s match against Lazio.

'2003-2004 Season Review - Another Season Passes'

There was reason for optimism at the end of season 2002-2003. Improving on the previous season, Inter finished second in Serie A behind Juventus and lost on the away goals rule in the semi-finals of the Champions League to eventual winners Milan. With the summer arrivals of Andy van der Meyde, Kily Gonzalez, Luciano, Giorgos Karagounis and Khalilou Fadiga, the summer of 2003 had the Nerazzurri faithful thinking that it was going to be their season at long last.

Despite being confirmed as coach for season 2003-2004 Hector Cuper was well aware that if he failed to deliver silverware in the up and coming season, he would be out of a job but his confirmation as Inter’s coach by no means stopped speculation as to who would replace him. When combining the acquisition of left and right sided players, with having come close to success in his first season and improving in his second season at the club, Cuper and Inter were ready for competitive Serie A and Champions League campaigns.

But the first disappointments of many for the new season struck well before Inter’s first competitive match. Fadiga did not go on the pre-season retreat as he had a heart problem and would not play for the club. Di Biagio was told that he was surplus to requirements and Conceicao was released from his contract with both players criticising Cuper upon departure. Crespo was sold to Chelsea after which Vieri threatened to leave the club and Luciano continued where he left off with Chievo: under performing appearances bordering on the anonymous, confirming his purchase was a mistake and did not remedy Inter’s lack of width on the park.

PRE-SEASON RESULTS
In an Amsterdam pre-season tournament Inter beat Stuttgart and Galatasaray 2-0 and 3-0 respectively but finished second after losing 3-0 to Ajax. Inter then played in the Moretti Trophy where they lost 2-1 to Juventus and drew 1-1 with newly promoted Sampdoria. At such an early stage in the season there were reassurances that the team’s pre-season form would not carry into the new season but pre-season reassurances pointed to the fact that all was not well in the Nerazzurri camp.

The TIM Trophy followed where Inter showed some promise by beating Milan and Juventus but the matches were only forty-five minutes each and the only bearing they might have had on the season was to give Inter a psychological edge when the teams met in Serie A.

Inter then won the Pirelli Cup 1-0 against La Liga runner’s up Real Sociedad, but despite the victory, the club’s supporters showed their anger towards President Moratti regarding Crespo’s sale by displaying a banner that read: “Your stupidity has no limits, but our patience does”.

Despite the competitive season not having started there were many talking points which foretold the story of the season to come: the team was playing inconsistently, the team’s star striker was unhappy, some of the club’s supporters were showing their dissatisfaction with Moratti and there was continued speculation as to who would replace Cuper in the likelihood that he did not succeed during the season.

THE SEASON STARTS
Inter won their season opener 2-0 against Modena but the usual criticism followed as the team failed to impress and was bailed out by late goals from Vieri and a Materazzi injury time free kick. In a pre-season where Cuper placed an emphasis on entertaining football, the first match of the season was a dismal failure. At half-time, the Nerazzurri faithful booed their team off the field and by the end of the match, commentators were no longer speculating if Cuper would be replaced, it was now only a matter of who would replace him. To make matters worse, Vieri angrily lashed out at the club by stating that the team’s first half performance was appalling and he could not always carry the team. He also insisted on the need for Inter to have an organised team ethic and plan of action on the field.

The second match of the season was a 1-0 victory against Siena. Materazzi scored the winning goal from a free kick taken outside the box but the team’s performance was described as shaky and unconvincing. Following the match, Vice-president Facchetti defended the team’s lacklustre performance and highlighted the fact there were five new players in the line-up against Siena and it would take time for the team to gel. President Moratti also defended the team by stating the club was being too harshly treated by the Italian media but that did not stop the press from holding Cuper responsible for Inter’s unconvincing start to the season.

Inter’s first Champions League match was against Arsenal at Highbury. When considering Arsenal’s attacking style of play, their conquering form in the Premier League and Inter’s unconvincing start to the season many supporters felt that Inter would be lucky to come away with a positive result. To make matters worse, Recoba was still recovering from injury and Vieri was injured in a midweek match for the Nazionale. Both players were unavailable for selection whereby Martins and Cruz led Inter’s attack and the match finished with a 3-0 victory over Arsenal that was possibly Cuper’s best European result as Inter coach. The Arsenal performance showed that Inter could play as a compact and determined unit and that with Cruz and Martins up front, Inter were by no means Vieri dependent. The result also silenced Inter’s critics and many believed the win over Arsenal would provide the necessary confidence and platform from which the team could launch its bid for the Scudetto in the forthcoming home match against Sampdoria.

The match against Sampdoria ended 0-0 and was followed by another goaless draw against Udinese. The latter result was quite good considering the fact that Vieri, Recoba and Kily Gonzalez were sidelined and Inter had not won a match at the Stadio Friuli since season 1997-1998 but the pressure on Cuper was mounting and Inter’s next Serie A opponent was Milan.
BREAKING POINT
At the end of the 3-1 defeat against Milan, Inter fans threw objects at Cuper and the team found itself five points adrift of joint Serie A leaders Juventus and Milan. The club was running out of patience and there was an air of uncertainty regarding Cuper’s future. In his first two seasons at Inter, Cuper improvised and went without recognised flank players. By the end of the match against Milan he substituted the flank players he had specifically requested in the summer as Helveg replaced van der Meyde and Brechet substituted for Kily Gonzalez. In the fallout after the match Moratti warned Cuper that any further setbacks would not be tolerated, former player Ronaldo criticised Cuper from Spain, and Luigi Di Biagio renewed his pre-season attacks on Cuper by complaining about the way he was pushed out of the club.

In the lead up to Inter’s next match against Brescia speculation was rife that the Inter was looking to immediately replace Cuper with Zaccheroni and use the latter coach as a stop gap until the club could hire Roberto Mancini at the end of the season. Brescia’s President, Gino Corioni, had clear thoughts on the matter and stated that the for the sake of Inter and the club’s supporters, he hoped Brescia would win. After fighting back from 2-0 down at the Stadio Rigamonti to draw 2-2, Cuper was relieved at the result but once again the team was heavily criticised. Brescia’s president possibly summed up the thoughts of many Inter supporters when at the end of the match he stated he was not at all surprised at seeing such a bad performance as Inter play well on average once in very fifty games. Despite three victories in the Champions League group stage and a majority of the Italian championship still yet to be played, Moratti decided it was time for Inter and Cuper to part company six weeks into the Serie A campaign as the team had only collected nine points out of a possible eighteen.

Cuper’s sacking did not come as a surprise as it was widely believed he would have been replaced in the summer before the new season, had Roberto Mancini been available. Perhaps what was a surprise was the timing of the dismissal. In choosing to dismiss Cuper six weeks into the season, Moratti effectively ruined Inter’s season. Had he chosen to keep Cuper until the end of the season that has just passed then something positive may have been salvaged. It might also have been the case that had he decided to part company with Cuper at the end of the latter’s second season in charge, a new coach would have been appointed and would have had the summer to familiarise himself with the club and its players as well as be involved in its transfer dealings. Instead, Moratti’s desire to give the appearance that he has learnt from past mistakes led to the season being wasted. In Cuper’s place came Alberto Zaccheroni and despite agreeing a contract of several years, one of the first announcements made by Moratti in relation to his new coach was to respond to reports that Zaccheroni was not a temporary measure until this summer when it was widely believed that Mancini would be appointed Inter coach.

ZACCHERONI TAKES CHARGE
There were mixed reactions to Zaccheroni’s appointment as Inter coach. Many football commentators were tired of seeing talented players labour under Cuper’s defensive and negative tactics, believing a change in coach would herald a new brand of attacking football. Carlo Mazzone, stated Moratti made the right decision whilst Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi stated that a change in coach would not necessarily mean a change in the fortunes of the club.

Others felt that Cuper had brought Inter to the brink of success and the club should have kept faith with the coach it backed in the summer. Moratti revealed that the decision to sack Cuper was taken for the good of the club as the players no longer wanted to work under Cuper. But regardless of thoughts and feelings, the longest serving coach in President Moratti’s era was sacked and it was anyone’s guess as to how the remainder of the season would unfold.

At the time of Cuper’s dismissal Inter were seven points behind Juventus in Serie A and top of their Champions League group after beating Arsenal and Dinamo Kiev. Zaccheroni did not take over straight away as the team was entrusted to caretaker boss Corrado Verdelli, who prepared them for the Champions League match against Lokomotiv Moscow. That match finished 3-0 in Lokomotiv’s favour and Zaccheroni was given the task of lifting the team’s spirits in his debut match against Roma.

Approximately one thousand protesting supporters greeted the team on arrival at the Meazza and inside the stadium there were banners reading “Cuper for President”, “No more alibis” and “Moratti Sack Yourself”. The match ended in a goaless draw after which a week of media silence followed in an attempt to kick-start the season. But at the rate things were going, it was increasingly likely that Inter would be out of the Championship race by Christmas.
From early November to mid-December, Inter went six consecutive matches unbeaten. There were noticeable victories against Chievo, a six goal thumping of Reggina, a 3-1 victory in Turin against Juventus, the first since 1993, and a victory away to Bologna. But the run of positive results came to a halt in the final match before the Christmas break. Having not beaten Lazio in Rome since 1996, Inter had a chance to move into second place in Serie A. Prior to the match Lazio coach Roberto Mancini admitted regret at not joining Inter in the summer whilst Lazio player Dejan Stankovic's admitted that he had chosen to join Inter rather than Juventus when his contract expired in June. These statements led Lazio’s fans to stage a protest strike for the first 15 minutes of the game, leaving the Curva Nord empty except for their banners.
With the score tied at 1-1 in the second half and only twenty minutes remaining, Almeyda was given a red card for trying to strike Corradi. Having been given his marching orders a scuffle broke out between both players during which time Almeyda managed to take away the referee’s red card as well as attack Corradi a second time. Once teammates managed to wrestle him away from the scene, Inter played with ten men against a buoyed Lazio side whose winning goal came with eight minutes left to play. Although the Nerazzurri faithful did not realise it at the time, the loss to Lazio was a sign of things to come and was the start of a nightmarish run of results which followed the Christmas break.

In the Champions League, Inter did not fair very well as they drew 1-1 with Lokomotive Moscow, were convincingly beaten 5-1 at home by Arsenal and drew 1-1 in Kiev. Those results led to Inter’s elimination from the Champions League but they were drawn to meet French team Sochaux in the third round
of the UEFA Cup as they finished as one of the best third placed teams in the Champions League.

FEUDING VIERI
November was also significant in that it was the month in which Vieri’s feud with a section of Inter’s supporters started, a feud which detracted from the team’s efforts to concentrate solely on footballing matters. The first sign of trouble came when he stated that he would stop playing football in order to play cricket if he could get the same contract. In the same interview he praised and stated that he missed Ronaldo, and went on to say that he preferred life in Spain where football is played for fun and there is less emphasis on results. To make matters worse he further endeared himself to the club’s supporters by refusing to celebrate or smile when scoring goals and giving sarcastic applause towards the stand when he scored against Reggina.

In early December Chelsea sensed an opportunity to snare Vieri away from Inter. Sporting director Marco Branca advised Chelsea that Vieri was not available for transfer and underlined the player’s importance to the club by stating that he was Italy’s best striker and an undoubted protagonist for the club. Two days after Inter’s elimination from the Champions League, Vieri held an impromptu press conference during the presentation of a charity calendar. In that interview he angrily responded to press fabrications that he was depressed and unhappy, did not train well, and had issues with Zaccheroni or teammates. Vieri slammed the reports as being “superficial and pathetic rubbish” but speculation about his future at the club intensified with the possibility of Adriano’s return from Parma in January which was coupled with the inevitable question as to whether both players could co-exist in the same starting eleven. Early in the new year, Moratti stated that despite the return of Adriano, Vieri had a future at the club and he hoped the latter player was not looking for a future away from Inter.

JANUARY CHAOS
January started well enough as the first match after the winter break saw Inter beat Lecce 3-1. Vieri scored his 100th goal in an Inter shirt and the goal celebrations saw Materazzi crown him King. Vieri stated his intention to stay at the club and the club maintained its intention to keep his services. But the calm did not last very long as Vieri pulled out of the squad that managed a 0-0 draw against Udinese in the Coppa Italia, first leg quarter-final match. Reports stated that Zaccheroni wanted Vieri at his disposal whilst Vieri insisted that he stayed in Milan to receive treatment on a knee problem. Vieri put his absence down to a misunderstanding but it appears as if the club was counting on him to travel with the team to give a sign that the Coppa Italia was an important club objective. When combining Vieri’s latest indiscretion with the likelihood of Adriano’s return, Vieri’s Chelsea link resurfaced and the club’s attitude noticeably changed with admitting that he was available for the right price.

With Vieri respecting the club’s decision to issue him with a fine, Zaccheroni supposedly dropped him from the squad to play against Empoli stating that he was not available for selection due to a muscular problem in the player’s left thigh. The press believed the decision to drop Vieri was further punishment for his midweek indiscretion. If such was the case and given the fact that there were also injuries to Coco, Materazzi, Cannavaro, Cristiano Zanetti and Recoba, the decision to drop Vieri was evidence of Zaccheroni underestimating Empoli as Inter lost the match 1-0. The loss put the club in crisis and saw them fall eleven points behind league leaders Roma.

Following the loss to Empoli, Inter supporters prevented the team bus from leaving the Meazza and presented banners criticising Moratti’s many changes over the years and the increasingly likely departure of Christian Vieri. The next day, Moratti resigned as President of the club and indicated that Vice-president Giacinto Facchetti, a great player in the history of the club, would be Inter’s next President. The announcement came as a surprise but in effect meant very little changed as Moratti remained Inter’s club owner. January also saw Luciano return to Chievo and the arrivals of Adriano from Parma and Stankovic from Lazio.

INTER IN DECLINE
The beginning of February saw Inter beat Siena 4-0 with both Recoba and Adriano scoring two goals each but Inter’s season took another bad turn when Materazzi punched Siena’s Bruno Cirillo after the match and was subsequently banned for two months. The Italian Football League's disciplinary commission fined Inter 5000 Euros and Inter punished Materazzi by fining him up to 35,000 pounds. Following the win against Siena, Inter went eleven competitive matches without winning a game. In Serie A, they did not win for five weeks: giving up a 2-0 lead in the Milan derby to lose 3-2 and getting thumped 4-1 by Roma in Rome. After the derby loss Inter found themselves nineteen points behind league leaders Milan and restaurants owned by Christian Vieri and Fabio Cannavaro were firebombed by disgruntled Inter supporters who were tired of suffering and being humiliated.

COPPA ITALIA & UEFA CUP
In the Coppa Italia, Inter met Juventus in the semi-finals. The first leg encounter saw Juventus twice come from behind to finish 2-2 with Inter unluckily being denied a third goal after efforts from Okan and Adriano hit the cross bar and post. In the second leg Adriano scored seven minutes into the match and both Vieri and Kily were denied first half goals by shots that hit the foot of the post and the crossbar. Juventus managed an equaliser before halftime but after the break the match was marred by scandalous refereeing. Cordoba was sent off for hacking down Nedved and Inter were denied a clear penalty after Montero hacked Emre in the Juventus penalty box. A short time later, Juventus took a 2-1 lead after Del Piero scored from a Miccoli corner and towards the end of the second half Montero committed a knee high tackle on Emre that should have seen him receive a red card and left Emre injured. Reduced to ten men, Inter managed to fight on and Adani equalised in the closing moments of the match to make it 2-2.

In extra time, both teams were visibly tired and penalty kicks followed. Up until Inter’s last spot kick, every player had scored their penalty. In a cruel twist of fate, Vieri stepped up to take Inter’s last penalty and had his shot saved by Chimenti. The tie finished 4-4 on aggregate and 5-4 on penalties. Inter were eliminated from the Coppa Italia and if the derby loss hurt the Nerazzurri faithful, the way in which Inter were bundled out of the Coppa was heartbreaking and left many supporters wishing an immediate end to a nightmare season in which nothing had gone right.

In the UEFA Cup, Inter managed to beat Sochaux and Benfica to book a quarter-final meeting against Marseille. Inter lost the first leg encounter in France 1-0 and lost by the same margin at home. As usual, there were the usual excuses of players fielded who were not fully fit, injuries which had decimated the team and the customary regrets that come with wasted chances. Injuries were definitely a cause for concern and hampered Inter’s efforts throughout the season but they did not detract from the conclusion that the club was simply not good enough to advance any further in the competition.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RACE
Towards the end of March, Inter won its first game in eleven competitive matches by beating Ancona 2-0 and that victory was followed by another win over Reggina. Recovering injured and suspended players, the team started to put together some positive results. Materazzi’s two month band ended at the beginning of April and he returned to play against Juventus, a match that Inter won 3-2. His return was a much needed boost to a defence that struggled in his absence and often lacked strength and determination. It is also worth noting that Materazzi’s on the pitch conduct was much improved after the Cirillo incident with it being noticeable that he had learnt his lesson.

Inter beat Perugia 3-2 and Bologna 4-2 but speculation surrounding Vieri’s possible exit again took centre stage prior to the match against Bologna as he trained and only went and watched the match at the Meazza. Vieri confirmed that he refused to sit on the bench if he was only going to participate in a match for ten or fifteen minutes and revealed he had no rapport with Zaccheroni and that he did not speak with Inter’s coach. But it was evident that any decision regarding his future at the club would only be made after Euro 2004. The season finished with a goalless draw against Lazio, a 2-1 loss to Lecce, Adriano sinking Parma 1-0, and Inter beating Empoli 3-2 on the final day of the season to happily clinch fourth place in Serie A and a qualifying place in the Champions League.

CONCLUSION
Not much can be said about Inter ending another season empty handed. Perhaps, after fifteen years without a scudetto and six years without winning a trophy, ending a season empty handed no longer comes as a surprise. What is most saddening is how a club of Inter’s stature considers finishing twenty-five points behind Serie A Champions Milan and clinching a qualifying spot in the Champions League on the last day of the season as a success. Unfortunately, Inter’s season was doomed to fail from the very start of the campaign when President Moratti indecisively kept Cuper as coach only to sack him six weeks into the season. From that point on, not much could be expected of Inter and positive results were few and far between. The team’s efforts throughout the season were greatly hampered by injuries and all the speculation surrounding Vieri. Perhaps what is most unfortunate is how so much promise went unfulfilled and how the season will be remembered for all the controversies that took place rather than on field achievements. Not all is lost as there were some positives that emerged from the final weeks of the Championship: Adriano showed that he was equal to the club that brought him to Italy and was more than capable of leading Inter as the team’s main target man whilst fellow January signing, Stankovic, appeared to have found some promising form which he will hopefully carry into the new season. These positives aside, overwhelmingly the best thing to come from the season is the mere fact that it is over and the Nerazzurri faithful can look forward to making a new start in season 2004/2005.

'Turning Point or False Dawn?'

For months, I waited for my Inter Apathy to pass. The poor results suffered by the team in January were disheartening. I thought morale could not possibly get any lower following the draw with Modena and loss to Empoli but I was wrong. Surrendering a two-goal lead in the Milan debry to lose that match 3-2 was heartbreaking and Inter's elimination from the Coppa Italia at the hands of Juventus was farcical. It was there that many of the Nerazzurri faithful hit rock bottom. Up until the victory against bottom side Ancona, Inter had not won a competitive match since February 1 - eleven competitive matches without a win. But, given Inter's 4-3 aggregate victory over Benfica and the defeat of Reggina in Calabria, now is perhaps the time to write.

It is about that time of season when you find yourself counting down the number of remaining Serie A matches. The number of remaining games tends to stay with you throughout the week because you know that when the final ninety minutes of the season have been played, you are not going to see your team for a number of months. I liken it to taking a holiday and dreadfully counting every day that passes until it is time for you to return home to familiar surroundings and your every day routine. Quite often, it is at this time that I feel a tinge of sadness as I look back on where Inter's season went wrong, as well as prepare myself for the months in which my black and blue boys will go on holidays.

Considering the last two seasons under Cuper, when the club was competing until the final last days and made it to the semi-finals of the Champions League, attaining fourth place in Serie A this season would be nothing to be proud of. As a sign of the times and a reflection on how terribly Inter has performed, the club has stated that fourth place in Serie A and victory in the UEFA Cup are its two remaining objectives for the season. Maybe the victory against Benfica and Inter’s advancing to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup have led to a premature wave of optimism but perhaps things are already starting to improve and come the end of the season there may still be reason for smiles and celebrations.

The 2-0 victory against bottom place Ancona was to be expected but given Inter’s form this season, positive results against lowly opposition are not guaranteed. The victory was only significant in that it ended Inter’s eleven matches without a victory and allowed the team to prepare for its midweek fixture against Benfica in a calmer environment.

Inter’s performance against Benfica is noteworthy in that it is the first time under Zaccheroni’s tenure that the team has fought and held on for a win. As per usual, Inter made their task of qualifying for the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup more difficult and complicated than was necessary as they failed to score an away goal in Portugal. This meant that they would have to win outright at home and going a goal down ten minutes before the halftime break ensured that Inter would have a difficult second half. Martins’ equalizer just before halftime allowed the team to go into the break with added confidence but the task ahead was still daunting.

In the second half, Recoba replaced Okan close to an hour into the match and scored within a minute of being on the field. Vieri added Inter’s third goal shortly after to make the score 3-1. At this time the result looked safe but an Inter match would not be complete without the Nerazzurri faithful having to suffer until the final whistle. Benfica scored to make it 3-2 and Martins replied in the 71st minute to make the score 4-2. Benfica managed another goal in the 77th minute and ensured the last thirteen minutes of the match and added injury time would be a nervous wait for Inter’s supporters. The final result was a relief and the fact that Inter responded to Benfica’s attempts to get back into the match was encouraging. But as always seems to be the case, Inter’s players lost their composure and let Benfica back into the match. The result could easily have gone against Inter and if the club aspires to go any further in the UEFA Cup then the players have to learn to keep their composure and simply shut the gates as opposed to conceding goals and nervously seeing out the closing stages of a match.

Following the match against Benfica, Inter played Reggina on Sunday afternoon. The 2-0 victory against Reggina at the weekend was not an inspiring performance. Inter were up against a team fighting for their survival in Serie A and also had to manage tiredness from the sapping victory over Benfica. An own goal and a goal from Adriano in the dying minutes ensured Inter got the three points but much has been said about how Inter’s game lacks fluidity and coherence. Comments on the team’s style of play, or lack thereof, have inevitably been followed by rumours regarding Zaccheroni’s future at the club which have been the source of endless speculation since his first week in charge.

A great deal of uncertainty surrounds the club, or more precisely, whether Zaccheroni will be Inter’s coach next season. In one way you cannot help but sympathise with him. He became Inter’s coach eight weeks into the season and inherited a squad that was built to play a 4-4-2 formation. He did not get to direct the club’s acquisition of players over the summer and did not get to work with the squad in pre-season.

Changing to a 3-5-2 formation eight weeks into the season, when the players have played a rigid and defence minded 4-4-2 module for the last two seasons would not have been easy. His task was made all the more difficult by a busy fixture schedule which ensured that he had little time to help the players adapt to and understand the new formation. Matters were further complicated Inter’s lack of a playmaker, rumours regarding Vieri’s possible departure, and expectations of instant success that come with a club that has not won a championship in fourteen years. Injuries and suspensions have also determined a large part of Inter’s season. From January through to the end of March, Inter has had to contend with having up to and over, ten players unavailable at any given time. Zaccheroni has hardly been able to field the same starting eleven in consecutive matches and it is little wonder the team has struggled and is languishing in sixth position in the championship.
At the same time, there are also compelling arguments for his dismissal. Under Cuper, the team very rarely suffered consecutive negative results, but under Zaccheroni, Inter went eleven matches without a victory. In the last two seasons under Cuper, Inter was vying for a championship and top three finish and yet under Zaccheroni the team is twenty-five points behind league leaders Milan. Last season under Cuper, Inter made it to the Champions League semi-finals. This season, under Zaccheroni, despite having won its first two Champions League matches (still under Cuper’s guidance), the team was eliminated from the Champions League and is now competing in the UEFA Cup.

The contrast between the respective records of each coach is striking and yet the manner in which Cuper was treated by the Italian media could not be more different. The difference in treatment may be down to the fact that Cuper had two seasons to implement his plan for the team whilst Zaccheroni has not yet been in charge for a full season. It may also be that Inter capitulated early in the season and ceased being considered a serious Serie A protagonist. Further, Zaccheroni’s attempts to implement attacking football to a club that has an abundance of attacking ability has not been missed and Inter’s first victory in Turin against Juventus in ten years has been a season highlight. But maybe the difference in treatment is down to the fact that the media expects or knows something that is yet to be officially stated by the club: that Zaccheroni will be replaced by Roberto Mancini at the end of the season.

Mention also has to be made of each coach’s tactical awareness. Moratti only acquired van der Meyde and Luciano this season. Many results during Cuper’s time as Inter coach were compromised as a result of not having the right players for his 4-4-2 formation. Recoba, Emre, and Morfeo were all sacrificed in an attempt to find a suitable player for Inter’s left flank but Cuper also made some questionable decisions during his time as Inter coach, the most notable being to only give Captain Zanetti a half of football in the Milan derby following international duty, and the confusingly early substitution of van der Meyde for Helveg in the first derby of this season. But despite some questionable decisions, Cuper managed to keep Inter competitive as well as promote youth team players such as Pasquale and Martins.

Under Zaccheroni, the team is selective as to when it should be competitive and despite poor performances from Helveg and Lamouchi, Zaccheroni still persists in selecting those players whilst ignoring those who are more deserving, such as Karagounis. With regards to promoting young players, Zaccheroni does not seem as willing to trust the ability of Inter’s youth team players and nor is he a versatile coach who responds to and changes his tactics as a match unfolds.

The question remains whether the victories against Ancona, Benfica and Reggina may be a turning point in Inter’s season from which the team can build upon for next season or whether the renewed optimism of some of the Nerazzurri faithful is just a false dawn? With the exception of Benfica, the victories against Ancona and Reggina are matches that a club of Inter’s stature is expected to win. The fact that much is being made about Inter being back on track as a result of these victories goes a long way in showing how bad this season has gone and how the club has had to reassess its goals for this season. But, one thing Zaccheroni has stated throughout Inter’s persisting injury crisis is that if he had a full squad at his disposal the team would be doing a great deal better.

Undoubtedly there is some truth in this claim because Inter’s seven straight victories in Serie A came before the club’s injury crisis. The team suffered a downturn in results following injuries to key midfield and defensive players with the injury crisis being made worse by the fact that the substitute players could not be rotated to prevent tiredness. It is only now that players are returning from injury that Inter’s results are starting to improve.

Ultimately, the direction the club will take for season 2004/2005 will not be decided until the end of this season. At the moment, the Nerazzurri faithful can only hope that their team will finish the season strongly. Indications as to the future direction of the club will follow from every result. Zaccheroni has a minimum of at least eight matches to prove his worth to the club: six matches in Serie A and two matches in the UEFA Cup. With Marco Materazzi’s return to action this weekend the team will recover a tough defensive player who has been sorely missed. Also, there is a chance that Emre may recover in time for this weekend’s match but his lack of match fitness may count against his inclusion in the starting eleven. Inter have every possibility of finishing the season in fourth position and possibly winning the UEFA Cup. Smiles, celebrations and Inter’s fate for next season lay in Zaccheroni’s hands and there is no better time for him and the players to prove their worth than by settling an old score and beating Juventus at the weekend.

'Vintage Inter'

It is not always the team with the best talent that wins. It is the team with the best chemistry.

There is no better way to understand the truth of the above statement than by looking at last weekend’s round of Serie A matches. Sunday’s 1-0 loss to Empoli was a just and fitting end to a week of distraction. While Carew, Totti and the lethal Roma bandwagon rolled Sampdoria, Juventus comfortably beat Siena in the snow of Turin. Both Sampdoria and Siena are placed above Empoli and yet Inter still managed to lose against a team who at the beginning of the round was all but one position above bottom in Serie A. If the team with the best talent was to always win, then perhaps Inter would have had success in recent years as there has been no shortage of talented players to arrive at the club. But as last weekend’s results highlighted, Roma and Juventus are teams with talent, work ethic and great chemistry. In the match against Empoli, Inter did not lack effort but it was evident that without Christian Vieri leading the attack and Cristiano Zanetti anchoring the midfield, the team lacked certainty and wasted a great many chances. Inter may have talented players but the result against Empoli shows that the chemistry and overall effectiveness of the team is jeopardised when certain players are absent.

After all the midweek distractions caused by Vieri missing the match against Udinese, he was fined and accepted the club’s punishment. There are mixed reports as to whether he was omitted from the squad to face Empoli as punishment or whether, as the Official Website claimed, he had sustained an injury in training the day before the match. If he missed the match as a form of punishment then in hindsight, Zaccheroni may have underestimated Empoli, but obvious from the start of the match was the fact that speculation regarding Vieri's future at the club and the events which had taken place midweek had taken a toll on the team. The decision to discipline him was right but if Vieri’s punishment included being omitted from the squad to face Empoli then such a decision was questionable as it undermined the club's ultimate goal of catching Serie A's leaders and effectively put an end to Inter's season.

Watching the match live I wondered whether Inter was capable of winning any silverware as the performance of some of the players was shocking and I was struck by a harsh reality.

Despite dominating in terms of possession and flooding forward at every possible moment, the team was leaderless up front. Without Vieri, Inter lacked an attacking focal point and when the ball reached the final third of the field there were several clueless players participating in their own separate circus acts.

As I watched the match I could not help but think:

Step right up, step right up and see a 'team' full of talent perform their special individual acts:

In defence, there is Gamarra, so slow that his inclusion in the starting eleven defies logic!

And what about Pasquale? As young and as inexperienced as he is, his many ‘qualities’ range from having delayed reactions, being under the illusion that he can pass a ball through a wall of three players and not being able to deliver a single meaningful cross.

Then there is the Frenchman Brechet, his main quality is helping the opposition score goals because he simply can not play.

What about the tenacious Turk, Emre? He is one of Circus Inter's main attacking attributes. He holds on to the ball for to long, can not make a tackle without fouling and even has troubles staying on his feet. But his temperament is what makes him so special. Good to see him getting sent off for something worthwhile.

And then there is Cruz. So far this season, he has been faultless, but as a result of this afternoon’s performance, he has clinched a deal to write his own novel which will be titled: A Thousand Ways to Miss Easy Scoring Chances.

And last but not least, there is Francisco Farinos, the Spanish clown. He tries his best and even manages to look busy but he will never be a first team player. If anything, he deserves a first class, one way ticket back to his homeland.

Inter's performance against Empoli was disgraceful and as I had the above thoughts, I found myself wanting to see the team punished for subjecting its suffering supporters to such a pitiful display. Considering the antics of the week that had passed, an Empoli goal seemed the most appropriate way to end proceedings. When the goal came in the closing minutes, I was sitting in the darkness laughing at myself for losing precious hours sleep and enthusiastically staying up to watch my pathetic team lose to a team that is relegation threatened. I also thought of my fellow supporters and wondered if they were feeling equally as dejected. A banner in the stadium perfectly captured the feeling:

After years of beatings and disappointment, dear President, the only heroes are the fans!

It has been well documented but successful clubs, the likes of Juventus, Milan, Real Madrid, and Manchester United all have something in common: they have objective management that is detached from the day to day operation of the club. Following the banners, the way Inter’s supporters filed out of the Meazza before the end of the match and the Inter seat cushion that was discarded and thrown on to the field, Massimo Moratti had little choice but to vacate his position as President of the club. In the week that has just passed, it was announced that Giacinto Facchetti would replace Moratti as Inter president and Adriano returned from Parma.

Who knows what this weekend’s match against Modena will have in store for us? But, if there is one thing you can be sure of, if it concerns Inter, you can be guaranteed that it will be controversial and eventful.

'Inter: All About Football…?'

Is it just me, or is everything that has recently concerned Inter had to do with off-field matters? Kallon’s eight month drug suspension; Almeyda’s three match suspension and his appealing the decision which led to the ban being reduced by a match; Vieri missing the quarter-final Coppa Italia match in Udine and being fined for his lack of discipline which has led to further rumours and speculation that he is leaving Inter for Chelsea; the possible arrivals of Adriano and Stankovic and even the reconciliation of a once favourite son with his supposed beloved club. There has been very little talk about Inter’s on field performances and you could be forgiven for thinking that the season is over.

It is hard to know what is going on at Inter at the best of times. More often than not, there is a great deal taking place behind the scenes than the Official Website would care to reveal. If there is one thing that Ronaldo and Crespo’s transfers have taught us, it is that where there is a rumour there is often a transfer. Perhaps President Moratti and the club’s management have realised that having been eliminated from the Champions League and being eight points behind Championship leaders Roma, Inter’s season is effectively over. Or maybe Moratti is simply trying to capitalise on the economic misfortunes of Lazio and Parma. Your guess is as good as mine but one thing that is clear is since the opening of the January transfer window, the club has been distracted from what really matters and that is playing football. Very little has been said about the team’s last three performances in Serie A, its drop in form and concentration lapses which have led to the loss of valuable championship points.

The last three Serie A matches that Inter has played against Lazio, Leece and Parma have not been convincing displays. The match against Lazio was always going to be difficult. Inter have not won against Lazio in Rome since 1996. When combining that record with the haunting memories of 5 May 2002 it was always going to be a difficult match. After the performance that Inter gave against Juventus in Turin, many supporters expected a similar fighting battle in which the team would emerge victorious but Inter never reached such heights. The team was on its way to a hard earned point but Almeyda’s sending off with twenty minutes to play effectively gave Lazio the three points. Inter spent the last twenty minutes desperately defending with one less player and from the tired manner the team defended it was obvious that Lazio would score before the match was over. A point in Rome would have been better than a loss but Almeyda’s irresponsible actions let down his club, team mates and the nerazzurri faithful.

Despite winning 3-1 against Leece, the final score does not reflect the difficulties Inter had in breaking through Leece’s defence. Three minutes into the match, Inter were trailing 1-0 and could have been further behind had it not been for poor Leece finishing. Despite their lowly position in the standings, Leece travelled to Milan with the intention of causing Inter difficulties. They played counter attacking football and defended in numbers. It was only in the second half that Inter came alive with Cruz, Cordoba and Vieri scoring a goal each, allowing the nerazzurri to take the points.

The match against Parma was not as unconvincing as it was frustrating. Despite the loss, Inter played reasonably well. The match was an open affair with Vieri hitting the crossbar from a Pasquale cross and having a goal ruled offside whilst Martins, Cruz and Emre also had efforts saved by former Inter keeper, Sebastian Frey. Had it not been for Frey’s heroics the match could have finished 3-1 in Inter’s favour. Parma’s goal came about as a result of a misunderstanding between Toldo and Captain Zanetti and seemed to perfectly summarise Inter’s form of late. Toldo mistakenly came rushing off his line to clear a ball that Captain Zanetti was also trying to clear. Both players missed the ball and Fillipini was left to stab into an unguarded net. The remainder of the match passed with Inter attacking and Frey denying. Watching Frey single-handedly deny Inter a victory added to the frustration as I thought of the Milan derby when he was Inter’s keeper and conceded six goals. I marvelled at the courage and confidence he instilled in his team mates and when the final whistle was blown how could any Inter supporter feel other than frustrated and disappointed? A draw would have been a fair result but when it comes to football, and especially when it concerns Inter fair often ends foul.

Inter’s performance in the aforementioned matches all had something in common in that goals were conceded as a result inattentiveness, lapses in concentration and silly mistakes. This weekend is the seventeenth match of the championship and signifies the half way mark of the season. Roma and Milan are playing at a level that Inter is struggling to keep pace. The championship is by no means over but anymore false steps will put an end to nerazzurri hopes. If Inter want to be competing for ‘lo scudetto’ in the final week of the championship they have to become more clinical and eliminate the mistakes which have seen them lose valuable championship points. A convincing display against Empoli this afternoon would be a good place to start.

The players and Zaccheroni have to stop believing in official statements churned out in interviews after the completion of a game. Such statements have become much too familiar and repetitive. How many more times are Inter supporters going to be told that the championship is long and that there is plenty of time for the team to correct the mistakes it makes? If Inter keeps taking this approach the championship will soon be over and supporters will next be reading about how the players are sorry that they disappointed Inter’s patient supporters and how the team is now looking forward to the start of a new campaign.

Another matter worth questioning is what is it going to take for the team to play ninety minutes of football? Sometimes I wonder whether Zaccheroni and the players are aware of the fact that the duration of a football match is ninety minutes. At the end of nearly every match, players and coach often say how the team improved or played better in the second half. Maybe the club is under the delusion that with all the talented players it has, it is only fair that it gives its opponents a head start by not playing in the first half, or maybe, when playing lowly opposition, Inter will give them a chance by conceding a couple of goals before the players start to play and earn what they are so richly getting paid for.

With regards to off field matters, the situation regarding Vieri is totally out of control. Aside from statements of assurance by Moratti and technical director, Marco Branca, made back in December, that Vieri is a champion who is not transferable, there has been little confidence in the team’s leading target man. Many supporters will disagree but rather than letting the media speculate about his every move, action, and his state of mind, Inter should show their confidence in him by offering a contract extension. This will put an end to all the rumours and a contract extension is nothing short of what he deserves given his contributions to the team over the years and the fact that he has stayed at Inter when the likes of Ronaldo and Crespo walked away after receiving better offers. Whether or not he would accept a contract extension is another matter all together but it would at least clarify the club’s position and force Vieri to either commit himself to Inter or leave.

In the week after the match against Leece and Vieri’s 100th goal for Inter, it appeared as if all had been forgiven as he looked to end all speculation in an interview by committing himself to the club. Following that interview, Moratti stated that Inter would be delighted to keep him. These words of goodwill were undermined midweek when Vieri decided to stay in Milan and miss the team’s Coppa Italia match against Udinese. After the match, Moratti stated that Vieri would be punished and that every player has a price. Perhaps it was all a misunderstanding but Vieri’s actions once again send out mixed signals to both the club and its supporters. Presently, it seems as if his being at Inter is doing more harm than good. At a time when the squad has suffered a downturn in form and needs to pull together and work with confidence and tranquillity, a key member of the team disobeys the coach, does as he chooses and as a result of his actions, intensifies speculation that he will be leaving. No matter how focused the coach and players are, the negative attention surrounding Vieri can not be positive. The situation regarding Vieri staying at Inter or leaving for Chelsea is just another example of inept club management: either tie the player to the club and end all speculation or allow him go to Chelsea and let Claudio Ranieri work out how is going to play six strikers in two positions.

With the collapse of Parmalat and big spending Chelsea looking to pounce on any quality player that becomes available, Moratti has moved to try and ensure that Adriano will be fully owned by Inter. The only reason a January return is being contemplated is because Parma are in such economic difficulties that they need the money from Adriano’s sale. The difficulty with the transfer seems to come from the fact Zaccheroni is happy with the strikers at his disposal combined with Parma still wanting Adriano for the remainder of the season.

As for the speculation that a Vieri-Adriano partnership would not work, the same thing was said when Crespo and Cruz first arrived at Inter. In the case of the latter it is probably true as the Vieri-Cruz partnership fielded against Parma struggled until Martins was introduced and Cruz played in the hole behind the front two. Vieri has scored 100 goals for Inter and remains one of the world’s best strikers. He struggled early this season but he is slowly returning to form and to sell him to Chelsea would be a mistake. Although maybe a new direction needs to be taken with Adriano and Martins leading Inter’s attack. Their partnership would be a mixture of Adriano’s great skill, power and talent with Martins’ aggression, speed and enthusiasm. With Cruz playing behind and feeding passes to the front two Inter’s attack would be special. Maybe it is a little premature to be thinking about such scenarios but it should be noted that both Adriano and Martins are young and need time to develop as players. These factors should force the club to think long and hard before deciding to sell a goal scorer of Vieri’s calibre.

The speculation regarding Stankovic has been around for some time but it remains to be seen whether he will arrive in January, at the end of the season or at all, given reports that he had signed a pre-contractual agreement with Juventus. Stankovic is the type of attacking midfield player that Inter require and can influence a match in a similar fashion to Nedved or Davids. At present, with the exception of Emre, Inter only have defensive midfielders in Cristiano Zanetti, Almeyda and Lamouchi. None of the midfield players mentioned has Stankovic’s presence and attacking ability and he would be a welcome addition to the squad.

Lastly, there were reports during the week based on a statement made by Branca, that the club is ‘very interested’ in making a bid for ‘the son of Inter’. Despite Ronaldo walking out on the club two years ago, Branca expressed Inter’s interest and Moratti did not rule out the possibility of Ronaldo’s return. Why the club would want to give another chance to a player whom it loved and supported through his injuries, only to see him ungratefully walk out after winning the World Cup, is a mystery. But if you think a section of Inter’s supporters have a problem with Vieri then don’t expect Ronaldo to be welcomed with flowers and open arms.

Rather than focusing on all the off-field madness of the last week and being primarily concerned with the transfer market, Inter must turn its attention to the match against Empoli and try to reduce the number of points between itself and Serie A’s leaders. More than anything, the nerazzurri faithful should look forward to the close of the January transfer window so the team can concentrate on playing the convincing brand of football played in November and December of last year. Perhaps and only then, will competing for and winning the championship become a realistic goal.

'A Week is a Long Time in Football'

Monday, 2 December 2003

A week is a long time in football. Over a period of three days the Nerazzurri faithful were subjected to a multitude of mixed emotions with last Saturday’s 6-0 thrashing of Reginna and the 5-1 humiliation at the hands of Arsenal. To many supporters the loss against Arsenal was emotionally exhausting and the thought of having to travel to Turin to face Juventus in the same week was a daunting prospect given the team’s midweek performance. When the final whistle was blown at the end of the Arsenal match the Inter faithful could have been forgiven for dreading the upcoming Italian Derby against Juventus. Later in the week, that sense of dread would have increased with the knowledge that Cannavaro, Materazzi and Vieri would not be travelling to Turin.

JUVENTUS v INTER

With the Arsenal result hanging over the team, Zaccheroni had a great deal to sort and organise before the match against Juventus. He also had to contend with injuries to Cannavaro, Materazzi and Vieri but in the press conferences during the days leading up to the match, he appeared calm and confident. This in itself was different to what Inter supporters are used to because usually, after humiliating defeats, and before any match against Juventus, there tends to be an atmosphere of panic and negativity surrounding the team. Since taking over, and despite the loss to Arsenal, Zaccheroni has managed to bring tranquillity and a newly found enthusiasm to the team. It appears that the players are responding well to their new coach, favour his style of play to Cuper’s defensive tactics and are willing to work and fight for Zaccheroni. But looking back on history as well Inter’s present form, there was little hope that Inter would prevail in Turin.

THE STARTING ELEVEN

With the likes of Del Piero, Di Vaio, Trezeguet, Nedved, and Camoronesi, I was worried about how Cordoba, Gamarra, Adani and Pasquale would manage in the absence of Cannavaro and Materazzi, especially as Gamarra had not played in the first team for quite some time. Also, after his dismal midweek performance, I was surprised to find Almeyda starting in the middle alongside Cristiano Zanetti. With Vieri injured I expected Cruz to partner Martins with van der Meyde and Captain Zanetti storming the left and right flanks respectively. Although it needs to be said that under Zaccheroni, van der Meyde seemingly starts on the left but appears to have a free role and often played and exchanged passes with Captain Zanetti on the right flank.

THE MATCH

From the start of the match it was evident that the team was aware of its precarious position in the championship and was ready to play football. The opening exchanges saw a sharp Inter side that was motivated and concentrated. There was no sign of doubt, nervousness or the inferiority complex that plagued the team under Cuper. And, even more surprising was the fact that Inter showed little desire to sit back and allow Juventus to dictate the match. The change from midweek was unbelievable and I wondered whether it was actually our black and blue boys on the Delle Alpi pitch.

Inter won the match in midfield. Almeyda and Cristiano Zanetti ensured that Juventus’ midfield had very little space to operate with the former player chasing every ball, closing down players, holding the ball so as to allow Cruz and Martins to move forward and then making telling passes out of midfield. Most noticeable was Almeyda’s determination to be involved in the match and make a contribution. Cristiano Zanetti was also vital, there were times when Nedved looked menacing and he simply tacked or fouled to stop Nedved in his tracks.

Captain Zanetti worked tirelessly and he is a true wonder. Seeing him with the Captain’s armband, I could not feel prouder and believe Inter has one of the best Captain’s in the world. He does not lead the team by scoring goals like Totti or Del Piero or by yelling at his team mates to make sure they are on their games. He simply leads by example with his marauding runs down the right flank and his team mates realise that they must put in an effort otherwise they would be dishonouring their Captain and his efforts.

What was most encouraging is that Inter did not look to sit back and defend after taking the lead. There was a slight retreat but it was nowhere near as deep or defensive as when Cuper was coaching. Since Zaccheroni took over I have noticed that Inter’s defenders look to use the ball intelligently rather than simply kicking the ball up field and allowing the opposition to construct yet another attacking move. Even when Inter was leading 3-0, they still pushed forward which is something that has happened so rarely over the years that I cannot recall the last time the team performed in such a way against quality opposition.

Admittedly, I was sceptical when Zaccheroni was announced as Inter’s coach but he is a great motivator and how can you not like a coach who, when his team is leading 3-0, brings on Emre to replace van der Meyde with half an hour to play? In the past, defensive substitutions would have been made but even when leading 3-0 Zaccheroni brought on Inter’s most creative midfield player to help create chances for the team, keep the pressure on Juventus and drive the point home that Inter is no longer a team that will settle for an unconvincing and defensive single goal victory.

Compliments must also go to Gamarra and Adani. The latter player has been used more often than Gamarra this season and his good performance did not come as a surprise but Gamarra was also impressive. When I saw that he was in the starting eleven, I had a dreadful feeling that the team might suffer as a result of his lack of pace, but Gamarra played well and his performance was all the more impressive given his lack of first team opportunities.

CRUZ & MARTINS

Inter’s sale of Crespo to Chelsea came as a surprise to many Inter supporters as there had been widespread media reports that he had agreed to a reduced wage and all that was left for him to do was sign a new contract. But at the time of those reports Crespo himself gave an interview posted on Inter’s website stating that he was happy at Inter but that football is unpredictable and it is difficult to know what is around the next corner. At the time of reading that interview, I had a feeling that something was amiss and with rumours circulating that Chelsea has switched their attention to signing Crespo because Vieri was not for sale, I wondered whether behind all the talk that he was happy at Inter and willing to accept a pay cut, that he was negotiating to go Chelsea. When his departure was officially announced, Inter had already set their sights on signing Julio Cruz as a replacement and many supporters were of the opinion that Cruz was hardly the class player needed to replace Crespo.

Cruz has been somewhat of a revelation this season. His quiet and business like personality is well suited to the club as he knows that Inter have great strikers and thus far he has not commented about having to come off the bench when he is not in the starting eleven. He does not have the ego of Crespo who naturally expected to be in the starting line-up and it appears that he simply feels privileged that Inter signed him. He is a player that is quietly confident and aware of his potential and capabilities and this is most obvious when he has been called on to replace Vieri or come on as a substitute. On almost every occasion, he has entered the field and made a difference by either making the team more dynamic and threatening or by scoring. For all the criticism that Moratti receives, I have not read a word of thanks to him for not only making a smart purchase in signing Cruz who has managed to score goals in both Serie A and the Champions League, but also managed to save money on wages. Not a bad effort from a President who is supposedly clueless and always manages to get things wrong.

With regards to Cruz and Martins’ strike partnership, they compliment and appear to know each other’s games quite well. For a tall player, Cruz is extremely mobile and fleet footed and it is a pleasure to watch them play together. For some reason though, when Martins plays alongside Vieri, the latter player’s presence tends to overshadow Martins and reduce him to being a passenger and it is obvious that the understanding between both players is not as great as between Cruz and Martins.

VIERI FACTOR

This season I have watched matches in which Vieri has played as well as some that he has missed. When he is missing from the starting eleven, the team looks more dynamic and performs better. Julio Cruz and Obafemi Martins have a good partnership and both players know that they must share an equal amount of the workload in order for the team to get a positive result. Two of Inter’s most outstanding results this season against Arsenal at Highbury and against Juventus in Turin have come without Vieri in the team.

In some matches that Vieri has played the team tends to labour and restrict itself to only using him as its main attacking option. His being in the starting eleven has caused the team to struggle by way of lack inspiration and ideas up front as he expects service rather than working and making himself available to his team mates. This in turn places Inter’s midfielders in difficulties as the team is effectively playing with a lone isolated striker. It is almost as if Vieri’s inclusion in the starting eleven lulls the team into a false sense of security with the knowledge that one of world’s best goal scorers is accompanying them onto the field and, as a result, the match is already won. When taking into consideration his present lack of form and the fact that he has almost become an immobile target-man, one could suggest that his inclusion in the team is more of a hindrance than a benefit and that he no longer deserves to be an automatic starter.

But having said this, Vieri is a world class striker and has been Inter’s saviour on many occasions. He was Serie A’s leading scorer last season and has been a vital component in helping Inter to compete for the scudetto as well as in the Champions League. Perhaps, more than anything, Inter supporters must be patient and support him through this difficult spell rather than booing or suggesting that he be sold at the end of the season. With the Italian media following and criticising his every move and action, things are already difficult for Vieri without him having to also endure criticism from his own supporters. Before criticising him, perhaps some supporters should think about how all strikers go through barren spells. More importantly, the Nerazzurri faithful should remember how he has remained at Inter over the years when another one of the club’s favourite and most beloved sons walked out when he had difficulties with Cuper and a chance to play on a winning team. World class strikers are a rare commodity and after all Vieri has given Inter, he deserves our patience and full support.

Just imagine, the team we saw on Saturday evening with a fit and rampant Christian Vieri leading the attack. After the performance against Juventus, maybe there is still a chance that he will get the silverware for which he has loyally stayed at Inter to win…

FORZA VIERI!
FORZA INTER!

George Lesses

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'Two Steps Forward, Countless Steps Back'

Friday, 28 November 2003

The 6-0 thrashing of Reggina at the weekend was a false dawn and possibly the worst possible test Inter could have faced before their crucial Champions League match against Arsenal. The match against Reggina allowed the team to take a few steps forward but in the space of just as many days, Inter fell into old habits, has taken countless backwards steps and now faces Champions League elimination.

With a supposed improved playing style and form I eagerly awoke to watch Inter live for the first time since the last Arsenal match. Two hours later, I was standing at the bus stop in a demoralised mood, staring at my Inter key-ring with a head full of empty thoughts.

There is really not much to say about the team’s performance against Arsenal that has not already been said. In contrast to the match at Highbury, the opening exchanges saw an Inter team that looked flat and unmotivated. There were moments when Inter threatened Arsenal but many of those chances came from set pieces and did not trouble or test the Arsenal keeper.

Despite all the criticism of Vieri and the negative publicity his actions are bringing to the team, he genuinely tried and worked hard and on most occasions his efforts were applauded. But the fact remains that Inter attract enough negative publicity through the inconsistency of their performances, the club’s inability to beat top Serie A opposition, and its lack of silverware over the years without having the added burden of adverse media speculation which might hamper the rest of the team.

The feud between Vieri and a section of the nerazzurri faithful is difficult given his goal scoring prowess of past seasons and his present poor form. But a big problem for Vieri is his present service. Unless Inter’s midfield helps create opportunities then he is not going to score consistently. Expectations are undoubtedly high but he has not exactly endeared himself to Inter’s fans by stating that Ronaldo is the best strike partner he has ever had or that he would prefer to be playing Cricket. And it goes without saying that he has done his present strike partners a huge disservice by praising and speaking highly of his former teammate. The fact of the matter is that if Vieri is unhappy or wants to play alongside Ronaldo, then he should simply leave. If he wants to mope, then he should mope around the house in his tracksuit pants rather than feud with a section of Inter’s supporters. What he should realise is that the majority of Inter’s supporters, the world over, appreciate his efforts and see him as a vital member of the squad. They appreciate what he has done for the club and the fact that he has not walked out when offered the chance of playing in a trophy winning team or at the chance of receiving a better contract. It is for his club and Inter’s sincere supporters that Vieri should play rather than feuding with a section of fans that are unappreciative and disrespectful.

Then there is Martins who threatened all evening. On the many occasions he received the ball, he had Arsenal’s defence on the back-foot. His inclusion in the starting lineup offers Inter pace, the ability to change the tempo of a match as well as pounce on any mistakes made by an opposing defence. Further, there were many occasions when he retreated to help the team in defensive duties and made an effort to make movements so as to provide midfield with a focal point up front. My only criticism of Martins is that his first touch and ball control often let him down and any ground gained by his pace is often lost by wayward ball control.

Vieri and Martins did not receive the service they deserved and as a result, were unable to make a significant impact on the match. Their goal scoring chances were scattered to a number of shots and the fact remains that a strike partnership is only as good as the service it receives which says a great deal about the failure of Inter’s midfield.

Inter’s midfield without the likes of Emre and Kily Gonzalez lacks significant possession and creativity. Emre is Inter’s creative midfielder and he draws a great many fouls which provides the team with set piece opportunities. With regards to Kily Gonzalez, his defensive skills are strong and he does not shy away from attacking and trying to break through a defence. Lamouchi and Cristiano Zanetti are very capable midfield players but neither of them is creative and their efforts against Arsenal had me at times wondering whether Inter were playing with two less players. As for Zaccerhoni’s decision to substitute Lamouchi with Almeyda, the coach was justified in trying to bring on a player who could possibly help lift the team but more often than not, Almeyda puts in terrible performances and Tuesday evening was no exception.

Defensively, the team was quite compact and the way the defensive line pushed further upfield was a noticeable change to when Cuper played a deep defence. But basic and fundamental errors were made in marking opposition players, conceding too much space, not playing a man on each post when a corner kicks were taken and not playing to the whistle. Some might ask how a defence can be tight when it concedes five goals. Until the last ten minutes of the match the score was 2-1 in Arsenal’s favour with Inter threatening to make it 2-2. The Inter corner kick which led to Arsenal’s third goal could easily have been a penalty as Sol Campbell clattered into Materazzi in the box. The referee did not award a penalty and half the team was caught out as they were appealing for a spot kick. Captain Zanetti was left to fight it out with Henry on his own but the simple fact of the matter is that the team should play to the whistle. At 3-1 down, the evening was over for Inter and the next two Arsenal goals came with Inter playing a man down as Materazzi was off the field injured with all three substitutions having been made.

The scoreline perhaps flatters Arsenal and does not tell the true story but in saying that, Inter’s ability to react as a team once they go a goal down, is questionable. Going on past experiences the team’s collective psychological state is fragile and as soon as they concede a goal against noteworthy opposition, more often than not a humiliating collapse follows.

The better team won and Inter’s qualification for the last sixteen is highly doubtful given they must win in Kiev. Although there were glimpses of a growing confidence, Inter are struggling. Arsenal provided Inter and Zaccheroni with their first serious test and the team failed miserably. Given that Inter face Juventus at the weekend, the psychological damage that could follow from another humiliation is immense and it goes without saying that Inter’s season will be well and truly over.

Standing in the morning sunlight, waiting for the bus to arrive and looking at my Inter key-ring, I felt ashamed of being an Inter supporter and came close to simply turning my back on them. The humiliation and hurt were so great that when I passed a woman on the street who was wearing an Arsenal shirt, I had to turn away. Despite many years as an Inter supporter and an equal amount of disappointments, experience should tell me that this weekend will be another loss in Turin. All of us are allowed to dream and maybe, just maybe, the Arsenal loss might provide our black and blue boys with the motivation they need to bring their loyal supporters joy, happiness and a much needed smile. We might yet find ourselves thanking Arsenal for beating us!

FORZA INTER!

George Lesses

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'Inter: Loathsome or Lethal?'

Sunday, 21 September 2003

A week is a long time in football and given Inter’s performance against Siena and the nature of that match, Inter needed at least a month to analyse, work and improve on their game. Anyone would have thought that season 2002/2003 never ended as the criticism that plagued the team last season simply continued after the match against Modena and intensified after the encounter against Siena. The team’s performances against Modena and Siena was branded unconvincing and unattractive with other media sources labelling Inter a bridesmaid club and coach Cuper as a nearly-man who will most certainly lose his job this season. Given Inter’s struggle against Siena, the media criticism, and the news that that Vieri would miss the trip to England, one could be forgiven for believing that Inter did not stand a chance against Arsenal at Highbury.

On Sunday, despite getting the three points, I found myself wishing the final whistle would be quickly blown so I no longer had to endure seeing Inter play so terribly. On the evening before the match against Arsenal, with the weekend’s performance still fresh in mind, I contemplated not waking up to watch the match. Sleep was most difficult to find as I found myself trying to guess Cuper’s starting eleven and nervously waking at hourly intervals throughout the evening before the match started. Having not missed an opportunity to watch Inter live, I got out of bed at 3:55am and patiently awaited kick-off.

The opening ten minutes of the match saw Arsenal lay siege to Inter’s goal with Arsenal only having themselves to blame for their poor finishing. Inter soon settled and it was not long before the team found a sense of rhythm. Although Inter were not dominant in the opening exchanges, they did manage to neutralise Arsenal’s strong midfield as well as give Henry little room to operate. The first goal of the match came close to half way through the first half. Julio Cruz worked his way into Arsenal’s penalty box at a difficult angle and elegantly chipped Lehman to make it 1-0. I was both surprised and shocked at how easy Cruz made his goal look and a couple of minutes later, van der Meyde made it 2-0 with a powerful volley which left me stunned. After watching the match against Siena, it was like watching a different team altogether and I could not believe how well Inter were playing. Trying not to let my enthusiasm get the better of me, I sat back and waited for Arsenal to fight back but just before the half time break, Emre thread a piercing pass to Martins who maintained his balance, made it 3-0 and added to the party atmosphere with his customary somersaults.

There were no further goals in the match but the second half was important as Inter did not concede any goals and played authoritative football. In their performance against Arsenal, the team showed its true potential and although I was disappointed at Crespo’s departure, by the end of the match, I was pleased that Inter had signed Cruz as his replacement. It goes without saying that he is not a striker of Crespo’s calibre, but it is that reason which makes him so valuable to Inter. Unlike Crespo who is simply world class and expects service, Cruz works tirelessly at finding the ball, falling back into midfield in order to start an attacking move. He tries to run into space so he can receive the ball and even falls back to help the team defensively. Some might argue that is his role but the simple fact of the matter is that Cruz’s work rate is much higher than Crespo’s and he is a better team player. It might be argued that Vieri and Cruz are ill suited as they are too similar but after his performance on Wednesday evening, it is evident that despite his height, Cruz is very agile and fleet footed and when coupled with Vieri, should form a strong partnership.

Not much needs to be said about Martins’ performance. His pace is blinding and when partnered with Cruz, both players caused Arsenal difficulty. Possibly the most enjoyable part of the match was watching the movements made by both Cruz and Martins. Inter’s forward line has never looked so lively and willing and that has a great deal to do with Cruz’s team player mentality and Martin’ pace and youthful enthusiasm.

In the match against Siena, Luciano did not perform convincingly so I was glad to see Gonzalez in the line-up which meant van der Meyde played on the right. I saw Gonzalez in action when he played for Valencia and his contribution against Arsenal was telling. His pace and skill were of great assistance to the team and his ability to play effective attacking and defensive football is a luxury that Inter have most certainly lacked on the left side for many years.

With regards to the right flank, van der Meyde’s performance was outstanding. Once again, his attacking prowess is something of a luxury for Inter and makes all the time we persisted with Conceicao seem like some sort of cruel joke. Emre did not play against Siena but his effortless and accurate passing was the source of many an Inter attack. Emre was replaced part way through the second half by Lamouchi and anyone who says that Lamouchi should not have been acquired because of his age has obviously not seen him play. Without a doubt, Lamouchi adds to the determination, work rate and grit which Inter’s midfield has so sadly lacked over the years and he very rarely makes a stray pass.

Perhaps the best of praise should be saved for Cristiano Zanetti whose play is unrecognisable to last year. His presence in midfield was crucial. He worked, ran, tackled and contributed for the duration of the match and it also seems that he has once again found his touch, accuracy and range when it comes to passing.

Defensively, the team was a little shaky in the opening ten minutes but they soon settled after which Arsenal found it difficult to effectively trouble Toldo and company. Materazzi was a tower of strength and the fact that he has displaced Cordoba from starting in the centre of defence is testament to Materazzi’s present form. Cannavaro appears to have shrugged off last season’s indifferent form and is putting in performances which are starting to come close to his national team form whilst Cordoba, even playing out of position on the left still manages to look more convincing than Coco and Pasquale.

Inter’s performance against Arsenal silenced some critics and provided answers to questions such as the weather the team can play without Vieri, whether it is capable of playing attacking and attractive football and whether Inter can authoritatively control a match. On the eve of the Serie A match against Sampdoria, the time has come to stop celebrating the victory over Arsenal at Highbury. The question that remains is which Inter will we see this Sunday? Will it be the Loathsome Inter that made viewing so difficult against Siena or will it be the Lethal Inter that convincingly dismantled Arsenal in midweek? Let us all hope that the result of the match against Arsenal is the start of something special and that our Black and Blue Boys will show the form that supporters the world over have patiently awaited and always known our team could play.

FORZA INTER!

George Lesses

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Milan's Materazzi complaint

AC Milan have taken a collective swipe at Inter Milan's Italian international defender Marco Materazzi - prompting a fierce defence of the player from their city rivals and San Siro co-tenants.

Materazzi's tackle on Filippo Inzaghi during Inter's 1-0 win over the Rossoneri in the pre-season Tim Cup is just the latest controversial incident involving the former Perugia and Everton player in games with AC Milan.

And Milan director general Ariel Braida led a concerted attack on Materazzi from the European champions.

"If this player does not recognise the bearing of these incidents he can not finish the matches.

"We accept everything - results, defeats - but we do not accept such an attitude of this kind, of challenge, of permanent conflict.

"They are repeated misdemeanours, continuous and very serious. The time has come to say enough," said Braida in www.gazzetta.it.

The Milan website, www.acmilan.com, went even further by listing a series of alleged offences against their players by Materazzi in previous derby matches.

Referring to Materazzi's claim that his critics should keep their mouths shut, the website said sarcastically: "We only hope that the mouth of some Rossoneri player is not the next objective."

However, the Inter website www.inter.it pointed out that Materazzi had a relatively good disciplinary record and issued a counterblast of their own at the Rossoneri.

"We are astonished that at the end of the match that such accusations and appeals to referees can emerge which were repeated by an attitude during the period of play, as the teams left the pitch and the day after on the club's internet site, surprising for a team that are European champions," said the Inter statement.
Updated: Fri, Aug 15, 2003 07:19:54 AM AEST

I thought the above report was most appropriate for this article. According to most football fans, pre-season tournaments and friendly matches do not count for much. They are perhaps most useful for integrating new players into a team, trying new movements and formations and helping build player fitness. But when the three competing teams are Inter, Milan and Juventus there is no such thing as a ‘friendly’ match.

I awoke Wednesday morning to find that Inter had beaten both Milan and Juventus in the TIM Trophy. The results of the two forty-five minute matches came as a surprise but when looking at them in the context of the long season that lies ahead, they mean very little. The victories were more important for Inter than for Milan or Juventus insofar as post match reports stated that Inter’s midfield was compact and that the team actually played well. Also, and equally as important, the results might assist the nerazzurri in purging themselves of the inferiority complex which plagues them during season encounters with their city rivals and Juventus. But these factors aside, the results mean nothing come the start of Serie A.

Perhaps what made me smile most was the furore surrounding Materazzi, Inter’s biggest villain. He is the player that opposing fans and football purists love to hate, an old school Italian defender, often described as a thug, hooligan or psychopath. To play the game as Materazzi does is a fine art in itself. Just as Captain Zanetti has made a name for himself as an honourable and honest footballer, Materazzi has made his name by shirt pulling, play acting, crunching tackles, quietly provoking opposition strikers behind play, assuming positions in which he illegally blocks players without punishment and purposefully stepping on opposition players but making it look accidental. All of these actions are a part of Materazzi’s wonderful repertoire and the best part is that he is an Inter player. Deep down, many an Inter fan would probably enjoy seeing high quality opponent strikers suffer at the hands of Materazzi and such harassment is made all the more special when that opponent is the supposed Super Pippo and the team we are up against are the Champions of Europe. Materazzi may not be technically gifted but his inclusion in the starting eleven is not only reassuring, but almost always guarantees entertainment. In matches where he was absent last season

'George Lesses- Columns'

'2003-2004 Season Review - Another Season Passes'

'Turning Point or False Dawn?'

'Vintage Inter'

'Inter: All About Football…?'

'A Week is a Long Time in Football'

'Two Steps Forward, Countless Steps Back'