Inter Milan brought a bittersweet 2023 to a close with a hard-fought 1-1 Serie A draw away to Genoa yesterday evening.
Today’s print edition of Rome’s La Repubblica newspaper, FCInterNews, sums up the mood as the Nerazzurri prepare for the year 2024.
Inter have had a busy calendar year.
The Nerazzurri started things off by beating Napoli in Serie A.
In short, it had given the impression that the Nerazzurri would keep up the pace with the Partenopei in the Serie A title race.
But that couldn’t have been further from the truth. The Nerazzurri’s erratic form in the league has seen them finish away from Napoli.
While this form of Serie A did not live up to expectations, the same cannot be said for Inter’s performance in cup competitions.
First, the victory in the Italian Super Cup last season. Inter beat AC Milan in the derby to lift the trophy.
Then Inter also won the Coppa Italia. And at the climax of last season, the Nerazzurri came desperately close to winning the Champions League, losing to Manchester City in the final with a tight score of 1-0.
After the Champions League final came a summer of first turmoil in the transfer market.
Twelve players left Inter. And twelve came in to replace them.
The new-look team have found the right balance.
Inter are currently first in the Serie A table, five points ahead of Juventus at the moment.
But the draw against Genoa yesterday was a timely reminder that Inter must sustain a very high level for the rest of the season or else risk letting the Bianconeri in.
Meanwhile, Inter are in the last 16 of the Champions League, but they collapsed from the Coppa Italia at the first request.
It’s been a year of ups and downs for Inter. From now on, it will try to stay afloat in 2024, avoiding certain pitfalls.
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