Simone Inzaghi’s Inter Milan will be no easy team to usurp as champions

The sky appeared the limit for Inter Milan after they brought to an end Juventus’ tyrannical reign over Calcio by claiming their maiden Scudetto in a decade. However, things have unravelled quicker than the fraudulent housing market in 2008 America on the black and blue side of Italy’s fashion capital.

Well aware of Suning’s financial woes, Antonio Conte was swift to depart. The man who engineered the Nerazzurri’s title triumph, already a hero among Interisti despite his previous Bianconeri allegiance, was out the door. Just three days following the conclusion of the 2020/21 campaign, no less.

Reports emerged that the club had to raise at least €80m in player sales this summer to merely stay afloat. Thus, Achraf Hakimi, the final piece to Conte’s puzzle, was out the door and on his way to Paris. PSG snapped the Moroccan up for a hefty €70m.

However, recent events suggest Inter’s financial situation is direr than initially feared. And in their current state, they simply couldn’t rebuff Chelsea’s €115m approach for Romelu Lukaku, who, after scoring 64 goals over a dominant two-year period in Italy, returns to Stamford Bridge seven years following his initial exit. Some respite has manifested by Lautaro Martinez’s desire to stay at the club.

Nevertheless, on the surface, it seems like an imperious title-winner have been decimated. The departures of Inter’s protagonists combined with the return of Massimiliano Allegri has fast-tracked Juventus as the Scudetto favourites for the upcoming campaign.

However, while most are bullish on the Bianconeri and bearish on the Nerazzurri as we head into 2021/22, you’d be naive to completely write Simone Inzaghi’s side off. Here’s why.

The new manager

Allegri was widely touted as becoming Conte’s successor in the summer of 2020 after the former Inter boss had doubts over continuing his project in Milan. He stayed, however, won the Scudetto emphatically before setting off into the sunset after foreshadowing Inter’s financial collapse as Michael Burry did with America in ’08.

Thus, it’s been left with former Lazio boss Inzaghi to stabilise and clear up the mess. Despite penning a new deal with the Biancocelesti in May, Inzaghi was keen to embrace the challenge that awaited him at Inter. He’d come to the end of his journey in the Eternal City after guiding Lazio to the Coppa Italia in 2019 and spearheading an impressive Scudetto assault in 2019/20, one derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic. That was Inzaghi’s Lazio at their best and it’s what he’ll look to re-create at Inter.

The new boss’ system bears an uncanny resemblance to Conte’s meticulous machine which he inculcated during his two-year stint. Inzaghi’s a 3-5-2 man, and his Lazio sides were revered for their efficient build-up, verticality, counter-attacking prowess and flexibility out of possession. It’s all incredibly similar to Conte’s Inter.

Thus, you expect that Inzaghi’s ideals will be relatively easy to implement on this disciplined and dogged Nerazzurri outfit. Overall, it’s the perfect appointment from Inter.

Inter’s imperious defence

While Hakimi’s electricity and Lukaku’s freakish skill set were undoubtedly crucial in Inter’s Scudetto success, the importance of their back three can’t be understated.

Masterfully coached by Conte, the Nerazzurri conceded a league-low 35 times on their way to the title last time out. They also had the best defensive record the season before, conceding just 36 times.

Milan Skriniar, Stefan de Vrij and Alessandro Bastoni blossomed into an impenetrable triumvirate in 2020/21. And it wasn’t all plain sailing.

Skriniar mightily struggled as part of a back three in Conte’s maiden campaign, while Bastoni displayed moments of naivety as a rookie. At the start of last season, meanwhile, positive COVID tests meant it was some way into the season until we saw the trio in action. However, once the dust settled, they became mainstays at the back. Skriniar adapted superbly to enjoy an incredible season, de Vrij was as consistent as ever, while the technically proficient Bastoni rapidly emerged as one of Europe’s finest young centre-halves.

Their understanding as a trio is telepathic and, as we all know, defence wins championships. With this threesome defending Samir Handanovic’s goal, how can you possibly write Inter off?

New arrivals

Inter’s high-profile departures have, understandably, totally undermined the club’s rather astute business in terms of incomings. AC Milan’s Hakan Calhanoglu was an early summer arrival as a free agent and although the Turkish international is wildly inconsistent and shouldn’t be expected to play with the same discipline as Christian Eriksen did last season, he’s nonetheless a talent who can supply moments of magic.

Calhanoglu provides the Nerazzurri with a set-piece threat and could emerge as their creator-in-chief. He notched 20 Serie A assists for Milan during his final two seasons at the club.

Edin Dzeko, meanwhile, won’t be able to replicate Lukaku’s output but has shown at Roma his effectiveness as a target-man and he’ll be looking to chip in with a few crucial goals. Inter have had some difficulties trying to find a more direct replacement for the Belgian, with their attempts to bring Duvan Zapata to the club proving unsuccessful. However, they’ve identified Borussia Monchengladbach’s Marcus Thuram as an alternative. That would be a great bit of business if they can get that over the line.

Elsewhere, the return of Federico Dimarco from his loan spell at Hellas Verona is an under the radar boost for Inzaghi. Dimarco thrived under Ivan Juric’s watchful eye last season, notching 11 Serie A goal contributions in 35 appearances, and will compete with Ivan Perisic, who improved markedly as a wing-back under Conte, for a starting berth at left wing-back.

On the opposite flank, Denzel Dumfries has been brought in to mitigate against the loss of Hakimi. Anyone who watched the Netherlands at the Euros will know that this is a wonderful signing. While the powerful Dumfries differs quite drastically from the nimble Moroccan, the Dutchman could certainly come close to replicating Hakimi’s output should he hit the ground running at the San Siro. He’s a physical phenomenon who boasts impressive attacking instincts. In his three seasons at PSV, Dumfries registered goal contribution tallies of 11, ten and eight in the Eredivisie.

For much of his time in the Netherlands, however, he was playing as part of a back four as opposed to a back three. As an out and out wing-back for Frank De Boer’s Oranje at the Euros, Dumfries scored twice and added an assist in four appearances.