Post by Taxigirl on Aug 23, 2005 8:46:55 GMT
www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/interatlast.html
If success breeds success then Inter fans may finally be able to swap their tears of despair for those of joy come next May. After years of living in the shadow of Juventus, Milan and even the Roman clubs for a time, the Nerazzurri could realistically finally end the campaign as Campioni d’Italia.
Of course, followers of Italian football have heard this all before. The San Siro giants have begun almost each of the last 16 seasons as title contenders but either failed to deliver or simply lost on the last day of the season at Lazio.
So what’s changed this year? One of the most important aspects of this Nerazzurri side is that they finally seem to have got into the winning habit. Before Roberto Mancini’s arrival last summer, the so-called giants had won just one UEFA Cup during Massimo Moratti’s stint as owner. However, they ended the last campaign with the Coppa Italia and started this one with success in the Italian Super Cup against Juventus.
Inter, who have incredibly only won three League titles since 1970, are finally giving the impression of a well-balanced side based on team spirit rather than egos. Often accused of trying to buy Lo Scudetto with Moratti’s millions in the past, this title challenge is based on their progress in the second half of last season and a reasonably well thought out transfer campaign.
If the likes of Walter Samuel, David Pizarro, Luis Figo and Santiago Solari deliver the goods hoped for, then they could make the Scudetto chase a three-horse race instead of two.
Pizarro is a deep playmaker they have been after for some time, even if he is unlikely to play alongside Juan Veron, seeing as Esteban Cambiasso is just too important to be dropped in Mancio’s 4-4-2.
Doubts do remain over the goalkeeping ability of Francesco Toldo and Julio Cesar, but this is a side who are proving that they can suffer under pressure in games, a far cry from the psychological fragile team who were addicted to draws at the start of last term.
Inter finally seem to believe that they can really pose Juventus and Milan problems but will also be aware that both of those clubs have improved themselves over the summer. The champions have brought in Patrick Vieira and the useful Robert Kovac, while their attacking options are unbelievable with David Trezeguet ready to put his injury problems of 2004-05 well behind him.
The worries in Turin revolve around injured goalkeeper Gigi Buffon who won’t be ready for action until November. How long will it take Christian Abbiati to find his form after spending so much time in the stands over the last 24 months? There is also the Alex Del Piero situation which is again likely to blow up as soon as he starts to be omitted from the first team.
Milan also have some fantastic attacking solutions following the arrivals of £17m Alberto Gilardino and Christian Vieri – who can both play alongside each other or Andriy Shevchenko. Their swoop for Marek Jankulovski will also prove a success but will their Istanbul nightmare at the end of last term come back to haunt them?
The Rossoneri, who finished last season empty-handed, may use a variety of formations in the new campaign in a bid to aid their quest for glory. Labelled as predictable by some in the past, under-fire boss Carlo Ancelotti has tested out a three-man defence this summer, allowing Marcos Cafu and Jankulovski, or Serginho, to become attacking wingbacks.
Barring any major surprises, Inter, Juventus and Milan should end the campaign in the top-three. All that needs to be resolved now is in what order they cross the finish line. Let the fun and games begin…
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Words: Antonio Labbate
If success breeds success then Inter fans may finally be able to swap their tears of despair for those of joy come next May. After years of living in the shadow of Juventus, Milan and even the Roman clubs for a time, the Nerazzurri could realistically finally end the campaign as Campioni d’Italia.
Of course, followers of Italian football have heard this all before. The San Siro giants have begun almost each of the last 16 seasons as title contenders but either failed to deliver or simply lost on the last day of the season at Lazio.
So what’s changed this year? One of the most important aspects of this Nerazzurri side is that they finally seem to have got into the winning habit. Before Roberto Mancini’s arrival last summer, the so-called giants had won just one UEFA Cup during Massimo Moratti’s stint as owner. However, they ended the last campaign with the Coppa Italia and started this one with success in the Italian Super Cup against Juventus.
Inter, who have incredibly only won three League titles since 1970, are finally giving the impression of a well-balanced side based on team spirit rather than egos. Often accused of trying to buy Lo Scudetto with Moratti’s millions in the past, this title challenge is based on their progress in the second half of last season and a reasonably well thought out transfer campaign.
If the likes of Walter Samuel, David Pizarro, Luis Figo and Santiago Solari deliver the goods hoped for, then they could make the Scudetto chase a three-horse race instead of two.
Pizarro is a deep playmaker they have been after for some time, even if he is unlikely to play alongside Juan Veron, seeing as Esteban Cambiasso is just too important to be dropped in Mancio’s 4-4-2.
Doubts do remain over the goalkeeping ability of Francesco Toldo and Julio Cesar, but this is a side who are proving that they can suffer under pressure in games, a far cry from the psychological fragile team who were addicted to draws at the start of last term.
Inter finally seem to believe that they can really pose Juventus and Milan problems but will also be aware that both of those clubs have improved themselves over the summer. The champions have brought in Patrick Vieira and the useful Robert Kovac, while their attacking options are unbelievable with David Trezeguet ready to put his injury problems of 2004-05 well behind him.
The worries in Turin revolve around injured goalkeeper Gigi Buffon who won’t be ready for action until November. How long will it take Christian Abbiati to find his form after spending so much time in the stands over the last 24 months? There is also the Alex Del Piero situation which is again likely to blow up as soon as he starts to be omitted from the first team.
Milan also have some fantastic attacking solutions following the arrivals of £17m Alberto Gilardino and Christian Vieri – who can both play alongside each other or Andriy Shevchenko. Their swoop for Marek Jankulovski will also prove a success but will their Istanbul nightmare at the end of last term come back to haunt them?
The Rossoneri, who finished last season empty-handed, may use a variety of formations in the new campaign in a bid to aid their quest for glory. Labelled as predictable by some in the past, under-fire boss Carlo Ancelotti has tested out a three-man defence this summer, allowing Marcos Cafu and Jankulovski, or Serginho, to become attacking wingbacks.
Barring any major surprises, Inter, Juventus and Milan should end the campaign in the top-three. All that needs to be resolved now is in what order they cross the finish line. Let the fun and games begin…
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Words: Antonio Labbate