After 4 years of consistent underachievement by the club’s high standards, things seem to be on the up for Inter Milan in the coming season. Roberto Mancini was appointed back at his former club in November 2014, after the Italian side recorded a dismal 2 wins in the first 11 league games. In his short time back, he has managed to create a flourishing attacking identity for the club and his final tally of 10 wins, 9 draws, and 8 losses shows a small but significant improvement.
Nevertheless, he maintained that his team still did not know how to win.
His experience of previously working with Inter and also with rich benefactors in Manchester City means no one is better suited to the job. As he stated in his first presser back, he understands the challenge of maintaining the club’s financial prudency, and remaining competitive on the pitch. He won numerous league titles in this previous stint at the club, so he grasps better than anyone else, what it takes to win in Italy.
Since his arrival, he has extended the contract of key players like Samir Handanovic and Mauro Icardi. 48 goals conceded by Inter in the league last season made it imperative to sign experienced centre-back Joao Miranda from Atletico Madrid, and also one of the game’s bright youngsters, midfield dynamo Geoffrey Kondogbia from AS Monaco. Kondogbia will add ‘steel’ to the midfield while also providing cover for the defence. Stevan Jovetic’s arrival also means that he wants to add an extra attacking impetus to his side, showing a huge statement of intent. Jeison Murillo and Martin Montoya have been deployed from La Liga to add an Iberian flavour while Davide Santon returns after some years on Tyneside.
Massimiliano Allegri, the Juventus manager has already identified them as title challengers, and Juventus’ loss of key players like Arturo Vidal, Carlos Tevez, and Andrea Pirlo plays right into Inter’s hands. Additionally, the lack of European football for Inter in the coming season will only fast-track their rise back to the top, and indeed it is fair to say that, the project bodes well for the club for now and the foreseeable future.