Three issues Inter need to fix in the second half of the season | OneFootball

Inter’s 2-2 home draw against Bologna saw them waste a chance to close in on Serie A leaders Napoli, but also shed light on those recurring issues that are preventing them from keeping the same consistency as last season.

While Simone Inzaghi’s side have always bounced back brilliantly from the few setbacks they suffered in recent months, some problems keep emerging and holding them back at crucial times, which could significantly complicate their path towards silverware.

Nicolo Casale of Bologna is challenged by Marcus Thuram of FC Internazionale during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Bologna at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on January 15, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Inter struggle to hold onto leads when it matters the most

First and foremost, Inter have a worrying tendency to crumble when things seem to go their way. When their effort is successful, and they finally get the edge they had been looking for, they just throw it away, especially when it matters the most.

Their clash against Bologna was just the latest example, and not even the most evident – yet, after managing to turn the tide following a rough start, the Nerazzurri failed to kill off the game and were pegged back, punished by a soft defending that allowed Vincenzo Italiano’s side

It had happened before and more than once. In the Supercoppa Italiana final, they were compact and clinical to limit Milan’s level of threat and hurt them with the few chances they had, before suddenly collapsing with a two-goal lead in their hands.

Something similar played out in their Serie A home meeting against Juventus when the Nerazzurri panicked in the final minutes and eventually failed to take all three points after having been 4-2 up, with a roaring San Siro pushing them to wrap up the game by scoring a fifth, which they could have done on more than one occasion.

Kenan Yildiz of Juventus celebrates scoring his team’s fourth goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on October 27, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

More in general, this is a problem which has been afflicting the Biscione throughout the entire Simone Inzaghi’s tenure – just think about their 2-1 loss in the Derby della Madonnina in 2022 or in their infamous postponed game against Bologna, when they lost vital points by failing to retain an advantage.

Last season, despite their domestic dominance, they behaved similarly in the second leg of their Champions League round-of-16 clash at Atletico Madrid, bringing their opponents back to life when they seemed tame.

Whether it is tactical or psychological, or a mix of both, Inzaghi is called to address the problem as Inter are likely to play many more tight contests in the coming months, and being able to hold onto narrow leads could become of paramount importance.

Ineffective substitutes

While much has been said about Inter’s squad depth, which also allowed Simone Inzaghi to line up a highly rotated squad in Champions League fixtures, recent outings suggested the coach cannot fully trust his substitutes or rely on them to change games.

The gap between some starters, notably Hakan Calhanoglu and Marcus Thuram, and their replacements is still too wide, forcing Inzaghi to mostly use the same players, which results in an excess of fatigue for some of them.

Inzaghi’s own management of substitutes is also under scrutiny – his extreme caution in making changes doesn’t allow players like Krijstian Asslani or Mehdi Taremin to gain the playing time and experience they’d need to raise their level.

Simone Inzaghi, Head Coach of FC Internazionale, reacts during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Bologna at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on January 15, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Also, such mistrust towards back-ups reportedly led Italy international Davide Frattesi to ask to be sold in the winter transfer window, with the risk of losing a valuable midfield option and undermining the serenity of the environment.

As a result, the Nerazzurri usually have to pave the way for their wins with their starting XI on the pitch, as substitutes’ contributions have often been poor so far.

Management of final minutes

The previous two points can at least partially explain why Inter tend to concede late, when they feel exhausted and tend to lose their focus more easily.

The Nerazzurri leaked a total of 21 goals this season across all competitions, ten of which came in the final ten minutes, often compromising their results.

Their three seasonal defeats, two against Milan and one at Bayer Leverkusen, all saw their opponents score in the closing stages of the match from situations which could have been avoided with more concentration and grit.

Restoring last campaign’s attention to detail and self-confidence will be key for Simone Inzaghi’s outfit to avoid late distractions, which could prove increasingly costly when season-defining games start coming thick and fast.