Despite sitting in second place in Serie A and through to the Last 16 of the Champions League, Inter coach Simone Inzaghi is coming under increasing scrutiny from the club’s hardcore support and ultras group after their tepid goalless draw with Sampdoria on Monday night.
The Biscione are technically Napoli’s closest rivals for the scudetto, yet trail the leaders by 15 points, and despite a crucial clash with Porto on the horizon, some sections of Inter’s support are questioning whether Inzaghi is the man to take the club forward.
Fanzine full of fan outrage
In the wake of the 0-0 draw against the relegation-threatened Blucerchiati, the Curva Nord attacked the 46-year-old’s tactics in their Secondo Anello Verde publication. Suggesting that Inter were performing like a mid-table side, despite having little to lose, given the points difference they need to recover on the Neapolitans.
“The dull draw seen in Genoa, against the second worst team [in Serie A] showed, once again, that coach Inzaghi is probably unable to motivate the boys for matches against smaller opposition,” the article began. “This is the attitude of a provincial team. Instead of risking three strikers, he clings to his formation.”
“Take risks to win, because a draw is of no use to anyone,” it continued. “We are Inter. Opponents must fear us, not us who should fear them. We should attack and demonstrate our superiority, and instead we look like a mid-table team happy with a draw away from home.”
Reaction needed ahead of Porto
While the Inter ultras have made their feelings clear in writing, there is little sign that Inzaghi and his players will not have the full support of the San Siro crowd when they step out onto the pitch on Saturday night against Udinese in Matchday 23 of Serie A. However, the reverse fixture against the Zebrette in September gave the first sign of their flaws, when giving up a lead to lose 3-1.
Inter fans will want a reaction from the lacklustre display against Sampdoria to reinforce their Champions League qualification credentials and provide the momentum for this season’s attempts to bring Europe’s major prize back to Italy for the first time in over a decade.
