Inter's Atletico Nightmare Resurfaces: Inzaghi Identifies Derby Dilemma and Heeds 17-Year-Old Lesson

Inter Milan's 2-2 draw with Cagliari means that a victory against AC Milan in the next round would still secure them the title. A controversial handball decision, which the referee didn’t even check on VAR, led to some frustrated fans. However, Inter seemed unfazed. For instance, Simone Inzaghi mentioned post-match that the team should focus on avoiding mistakes like the one that led to the first conceded goal. As for the second goal, he suggested leaving some grace to congratulate Cagliari.

Several players stood out in the match. Marcus Thuram ended his 553-minute goal drought, becoming the first Inter player since Samuel Eto'o in the 2009-10 season to score over ten goals and provide more than five assists in his first year at the club. Another notable performance came from Davide Frattesi, who won a penalty shortly after coming on as a substitute. However, despite playing nearly 30 minutes, he only had six touches and failed to complete a single accurate pass, showcasing both his strengths and weaknesses.

Inter’s inability to secure all three points invited significant criticism, focused on three main areas. Firstly, more than half of the 13 points Inter has dropped this season have been against teams in the lower half of the table. This highlights a recurring issue—Inter lacks certain elements, such as the effective "individual breakthroughs and high-point bombardment" crucial against relegation-threatened teams. This is an old problem, and it remains to be seen if Inter will address these weaknesses in the summer transfer window.

Secondly, failing to secure three points against Cagliari cost Inter the chance to break several historical records, such as reaching 103 points. However, some believe this might not necessarily be a bad thing. While achieving records when adding a second star to their badge would be the icing on the cake, overemphasizing such goals and exhausting key players could be detrimental in the long run. If, after securing the trophy, the team doesn't dare to fully utilize new signings and develop young talents, the long-term consequences could be unfavorable.

The most prevalent criticism is that Inter’s conservatism after taking the lead has caused their recent dip in performance quality. This conservative approach, confirmed by Inzaghi himself, was evident in the match against Atletico Madrid, where Inter’s overly defensive tactics led to a reversal. Similarly, in recent league matches, Inter’s conservatism has been a key factor in their declining match quality. Post-match, reporters asked Inzaghi if Inter had become more defensive lately. Inzaghi courageously admitted that they had.

This conservatism manifests in several ways. For instance, Inzaghi prefers the more defensively solid Matteo Darmian over Denzel Dumfries for the wing-back position. He also hesitates to take risks with new signings like Tajon Buchanan. Additionally, after taking the lead, the team often falls back to defend, whereas two months ago, they would have looked to extend their lead with counterattacks. The players’ desire to avoid injuries before the European Championships and Copa America is another factor, but the strategic shift is primarily evident in Inzaghi’s approach.

Earlier in the year, even in single-elimination cup matches, Inter’s attitude was markedly different. They were more proactive and less cautious. The Italian media suggests this shift might be due to "pre-finish line nerves." Despite his successes, including three Coppa Italia titles and five Supercoppa Italiana titles, Inzaghi has yet to win a top-tier trophy like the Serie A or Champions League. He knows that this league title is crucial for his career and reputation.

Inzaghi's cautious approach as he nears the finish line is reminiscent of Roberto Mancini's strategy during the 2006-07 season. Back then, Inter had a 15-point lead after 29 rounds and were on the verge of clinching the title. However, they became overly cautious, trying to secure points rather than playing their usual attacking game. This conservative approach led to a three-match winless streak, delaying their title celebrations. The most notable instance was their 3-1 defeat to second-placed Roma on April 18, 2007, when a victory would have secured the title. The cautious approach resulted in a disappointing loss, much to the frustration of tens of thousands of fans gathered at Piazza del Duomo for the celebration.

Seventeen years later, Inter finds itself in a similar situation. They have the opportunity to secure the title by defeating the second-placed team, AC Milan, but they once again show signs of "pre-finish line nerves." The upcoming derby has been labeled by Italian media as Inter’s "match of the season." This time, however, Inzaghi has more experience than Mancini did back then—having even experienced a Champions League final.

As the derby approaches, Inzaghi needs to ensure that his team does not succumb to the same conservative tactics that hindered them against Atletico Madrid and in recent league matches. The lessons from 17 years ago must be heeded. If Inter can embrace a more assertive approach, avoiding the pitfalls of excessive caution, they stand a better chance of securing the title and avoiding the disappointment that marred their campaign nearly two decades ago. The upcoming match against AC Milan could be the defining moment for Inzaghi and his quest for a top-tier trophy, crucial for his career and legacy.