Reasons for Inter Milan’s downfall
It’s incredible to see the Italian and European Champions struggling so badly this season that they find themselves in 6th place and 9 points behind league leaders, AC Milan. Jose Mourinho’s departure can be considered one reason but such a dramatic
turn in results cannot be attributed to one reason alone.
Bettor.com has come up with a number of possible reasons behind Inter’s downfall so far this season:
Quiet Summer Transfer Window:
Inter were quite complacent in the summer after the conclusion to their wonderful treble winning season. They allowed their wonder kid Mario Balotelli to leave and replaced him with youngsters, Coutinho and Biabiany. Even though the former has shown that
he has the talent to succeed but Biabiany does not look of Inter’s standard.
While Inter sat quietly and thought that their treble winning squad did not require any reinforcements, the likes of AC Milan and Juventus went out to make major signings. The arrival of former Inter man Ibrahimovic and Robinho has given Milan the much desired
pace and skill upfront. Juventus made the signing of the season so far in Milos Krasic and also signed Alberto Aquilani on loan. Inter, all this time sat back and did nothing.
Jose Mourinho’s Shadow:
Mourinho is indeed a special manager and his relationship with his players both at Chelsea and then at Inter has been phenomenal. His charisma and personality makes him a top coach and is being dearly missed by Inter at the moment.
The problem that Rafa faces is that he is going to be compared to Mourinho all the time. It seems that many of the Inter players are still attached and used to Mourinho and are struggling to cope with the change in management.
The image of Marco Materazzi and Mourinho crying while hugging each other after the Champions League final victory shows a lot about the relationship Mourinho had with players at Inter.
Benitez cannot escape Mourinho. He needs to get the results back on track and develop some sort of relationship with his players.
Rafa Benitez:
Inter's downfall can mainly be attributed to their current manager, Rafa Benitez. He had similar problems during his time with Liverpool when he employed his methods to no avail and then persisted with them.
He should have opted to continue with the methods and system Inter players were used to under Mourinho, and then gradually bring about his own ideas. But instead, he has come in and changed the style of play from counter attacking football to possession
football, which is generally easier to defend. He has moved his defensive line higher up the pitch and his attacking players do not press from the front.
These ideas are surely not wrong, but his players are not used to them at the moment. Maybe, he needs those players who are capable of playing his style of football.
The main problem has been his team selections. He has fluctuated bizarrely, and one example was when he played Marco Materazzi in the Milan derby.
Wesley Sneijder & Diego Milito:
Two players who were the heart beat of treble winning Inter side last season have been out of form this season. Milito can be excused for not being favoured by Rafa (another example of Rafa’s poor team selection) but Sneijder has failed to replicate his
last season’s form.
Wesley Sneijder, the man who is still the hot favourite to win FIFA Ballon d’Or, has failed to make any sort of impact during this current campaign. The World Cup hangover can be cited as one reason for his lack of form but it has dented Rafa Benitez's debut
season big time.
It is not all doom and gloom for Inter at the moment. They did make a bright start to their season and Samuel Eto’o is enjoying playing under Rafa more than he did under Jose Mourinho. If Rafa can get Wesley Sneijder back in top form and get his players
behind, than he has every chance to have success with Inter this season.
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