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Can Inter Milan bring back the days of glory?

By Chiranjib Ghosh

MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 22: Head coach Jose Mourinho (L) and president Massimo Moratti of Inter Milan celebrate their team's victory at the end of the UEFA Champions League Final match between FC Bayern Muenchen and Inter Milan at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on May 22, 2010 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 22: Head coach Jose Mourinho (L) and president Massimo Moratti of Inter Milan celebrate their team's victory at the end of the UEFA Champions League Final match between FC Bayern Muenchen and Inter Milan at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on May 22, 2010 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /
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Inter Milan dominated Europe in the 2000s but have experienced a decline since the turn of the decade, can they make it back into Europe’s big boys?

When the likes of Roberto Mancini and José Mourinho managed Inter Milan, they went through a purple patch. Players like Marco Materazzi, Luís Figo, Zlatan Ibrahimović and Esteban Cambiasso performed day in day out for the Milanese club.

This complemented by the tactical brilliance of Mancini and Mourinho led to Inter winning 11 titles in 6 years. The club’s value soared and youngsters like Adriano, Ricardo Quaresma, Davide Santon and Mario Balotelli bloomed.

But it all went downhill after 2010. José Mourinho switched the San Siro for the Santiago Bernabéu. And Rafael Benítez could not rejuvenate an ageing Inter side. Marco Materazzi,  Iván Córdoba and Javier Zanetti retired. While Esteban Cambiasso and Diego Milito left the underperforming giants for greener pastures.

Last season also did not go well for the Nerazzurri. After a disastrous start to the campaign under Frank de Boer, neither Stefano Pioli nor Stefano Vecchi could turn the season around. Even though Mauro Icardi finished with 26 goals, the rest of the squad endured a pretty tough season.

But Inter have turned over a new leaf this season. After hiring Luciano Spalletti, their fortunes have changed dramatically. The ex-Roma coach has injected some much-needed energy into the tactics and is getting the best out of his squad.

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Inter’s good performance this season is also due to the nuanced transfers made by Spalletti. He sanctioned the signings of Milan Škriniar, Borja Valero, Matías Vecino and Dalbert for a combined €74 million.

All of these players have performed very well, notably Škriniar and Valero. They both have consistently done well and have had a huge role in Inter’s brilliant start to the season. But the question is : Can they sustain it?

Inter is not participating in European competition this season. That leaves two trophies for the taking, namely the Serie A and the Coppa Italia.

In the Serie A, they, along with Napoli are undefeated. Inter have won 9 games out of 12, drawing the rest. In the process, La Beneamata have scored 23 goals, with Mauro Icardi leading the club charts yet again, with 11 goals. Winger Ivan Perišić has also contributed with 5 assists.

In the Coppa Italia, Internazionale have been directly drawn into the Round of 16, where there will be a Derby della Madonnina. AC Milan and Inter Milan will clash at the San Siro. Despite its apparent difficulty, Inter are expected to breeze through considering that they have already beaten Milan this season.

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Winning these titles will be the stepping stone to a bright future. With the likes of Mauro Icardi, Assane Gnoukouri, Milan Škriniar and João Mário peaking in the near future, it will be no surprise if Inter Milan end up winning the Champions League within a couple of seasons.

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