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Inter in Focus - the curtain falls on another season to forget for the Nerazzurri

Inter in Focus - the curtain falls on another season to forget for the Nerazzurri

It’s been a season everyone associated with the Nerazzurri will want to forget; from the pre-season departure of Roberto Mancini, to the farcical reign of Frank De Boar and then a Stefano Pioli period which included seven matches in a row without a win. However, I think it's safe to say nobody actually saw it coming.
 
Looking at Inter’s team on paper and the quality players they had bought in at the start of the season, the likes of Candreva, Banega, Joao Mario and Gabriel Barbosa, many had tipped them for a return to the Champions League but sadly, it wasn't’t to be. 
With the beauty of hindsight, maybe Roberto Mancini foresaw the disaster that was about to unfold and that’s why he got out before it could begin, leaving the suffering to those who followed in his footsteps.


 
His pre-season resignation should have been a sign to all that were serious problems at the club that needed fixing and the Inter board figured the inexperienced Frank De Boar was the ideal man to take over the reins and help steer the side in the right direction. To be fair to the Dutchman, he was involved in one of the few positive moments of the campaign and that was the victory over Juventus in front of a sold out San Siro. As it turned out, all that victory did was delay the inevitable and give the fans false hope. 
 
Similarly through Stefano Pioli's rein, the fans were given false hope when he sent them on a surging run including nine wins in a row in all competitions throughout December and January leading to talk of Champions League qualification. Then in March they went on to complete back to back destruction's of Cagliari and Atalanta respectively, netting twelve goals and conceding only two before rounding of the month with a draw at Torino. That was the beginning of a downhill spiral that saw the blue half of Milan completely deflated by seasons end.



Following this high-profile fall from grace they have now missed out on Europe all together prompting protests and disgust from the clubs fans as its been made clear there are some serious problems at Appiano Gentile.
 
The 2016/17 season will now be remembered for Inter truly living up to their nickname of “Pazza Inter” (Crazy Inter), and there really is no better way of describing it. Although despite the crazy season, aside from the De Boar victory over Juve, there has been a positive that is key to the future of Inter in the shape of Roberto Gagliardini. The 23-year-old Italian joined in January and looks like becoming a stalwart for the club after some age defying performances in the heart of the Inter midfield. With him having a first full season ahead and the possible inclusion of Luciano Spalletti as coach, things can only get better next season for old Crazy Inter. 





Ciro Di Baselli