The Serie A season kicks off today, and with that comes the expectation that Juventus will once again win the Scudetto. From perennial challengers, to struggling giants, Inter Milan have not been able to find it’s identity since 2010. The departure of Jose Mourinho left a vacuum. The team dropped off with Rafa Benitez, and fell as far as 7th before pushing back into the Champion’s League with Leonardo. Since then Inter have been a consistent 4/5th place team. But that isn’t good enough for the Italian giants. Inter have a long history of being champions, and it’s recent struggles have been unimaginable.
Since his arrival in 2014, Roberto Mancini has turned around Inter’s squad. Previously the team looked weak, and without the usual star power that Milan had seen. With Mancini came Geoffrey Kondogbia, Stefan Jovetic, Ivan Perisic, Miranda, and Jeison Murillo, to supplement, if not reinvigorate the squad. But after a recent falling out with the front office, Mancini decided to step down from his position, just after strengthening the squad once again with Ever Banega and Antonio Candreva. In steps long time Ajax coach Frank de Boer. In his time at Ajax, de Boer has had, and lost big name talents like Luis Suarez, Christian Eriksen, Toby Alderweireld, and Jan Vertonghen. He has had to deal with having such strong players leave in his time, and still put out title winning seasons in Holland. In his 7 years de Boer had a 60% win rate, and always put out teams that played good football.
Mancini, like at Manchester City, has built a strong, yet expensive squad. Perhaps he wasn’t the man to lead Inter forward. But he was a faithful servant to the club, in his playing years and managerial years, and fans owe him a debt of gratitude. But now Frank de Boer will be in the spot light. Anything under Champion’s League football will be seen as a failure. Inter has the talent this year. Mancini strengthened every weak spot in the team. Outside backs not up to snuff? Bring in experienced wing-backs Caner Erkin and Christian Ansaldi. Lack of creativity? In comes midfielder Ever Banega. With Samir Handanovic in net, and Mauro Icardi (hopefully) netting goals up top, Inter SHOULD be challenging for a title. But with how Juventus has been playing, it will be difficult to knock the champions down a peg. For now Inter should shoot for taking down Roma/Napoli in 2nd place, and getting a guaranteed Champion’s League place.
While the title race may be less exciting, the fight for Champion’s League will definitely be exciting. Napoli, having lost Higuain, may take a blow, and Roma have been strengthening it’s squad despite the loss of Miralem Pjanic (both players went to Juventus). Fiorentina will be solid as ever and Milan may even turn things around. The fight for 2-8th place is sure to be an interesting one.
