For most normal teams a comeback victory over the defending league champions would serve as a springboard for success, but as we all know too well Inter are the antithesis of normal.

The Nerazzurri followed up their impressive win over Juventus, with two losses including  2-1 loss to Roma on Sunday to fall eight points off the pace in the Serie A standings and a draw.

While some Interisti have already pushed the panic button, one look at the upcoming schedule shows that relief is on the way in the form of Cagliari, Atalanta (although trips to Bergamo are always tricky), Torino, Sampdoria and Crotone.

Inter have some major issues to resolve but I am cautiously optimistic that they will be occupying a Champions League spot by the end of the month.

Here’s what we learned from the 2-1 defeat to Roma:

1. Jovetic Appearance Proves Costly For Inter… Again

Just three weeks after Stevan Jovetic’s substitute appearance against Pescara triggered a clause in his loan deal that forced Inter to pony up €12.2 million to Manchester City, the Montenegrin dealt the Nerazzurri another blow.
Jovetic committed an unnecessary foul on the edge of the penalty area, which led to Kostas Manolas’ winning goal on the ensuing free kick. I could stomach a tactical foul but it was a lazy attempt to nip at Bruno Peres’ heels and it proved to be the difference in the game.

Inter manager Frank De Boer called it “a silly foul” after the match, but ‘indefensible’ would’ve have been more appropriate. There are a few players in the squad who need an attitude adjustment and Jovetic is one of them.

2. Banega Continues To Impress

Ever Banega pulled the strings in midfield and was Inter’s best outfield player on the day. Banega showed he was in the mood from the get-go as he unleashed a fierce shot that rang off the post eight minutes into the game and set up Ivan Perisic on a platter in the 25th.

His presence was sorely missed against Empoli and he showed why at the Stadio Olimpico as his set piece deliveries were dangerous and he always seemed to make the correct decision.

His goal was well taken too as he played a neat one-two with Mauro Icardi before turning Daniele De Rossi inside out and firing past Wojciech Szczesny for the equalizer in the 71st minute. Promising signs from the Argentine international.

3. Ansaldi Underwhelming In Inter Debut

Like most Nerazzurri supporters, I was eagerly awaiting Cristian Ansaldi’s debut, not because he’s an immensely talented player, but due to the inconsistent full-back play and he failed to impress on Sunday.

Diego Perotti and his hideous neck tattoo ran roughshod over Ansaldi all night until De Boer mercifully yanked him off in the 60th minute. Ansaldi was a step slow sliding over to Edin Dzeko on the first goal and didn’t track back on numerous occasions.

I don’t want to jump to conclusions based on a 60-minute runout after an injury but I have a sneaking suspicion that we’re not going to see improvement on the flanks until the club brings in some reinforcements in January.

4. Inter Too Reliant on Handanovic Heroics

The Nerazzurri hung Samir Handanovic out to dry once more as Roma fired at will on the Slovenian goalkeeper, who was more than up to the task.

He made a plethora of brilliant stops with his Gordon Banks-esque save on Dzeko in the 86th minute the best of the bunch.

Inter would’ve conceded four goals easily without Handanovic between the posts and I realize it’s his job to keep the ball out of the net but the Inter backline needs to tighten up and get their act together.

5. Slow Starts Hurting Inter

The Nerazzurri have conceded the first goal in six of their first seven Serie A games and have kept just one clean sheet this season compared to four through the first seven matches last year. Worry trends indeed.

Inter has turned some of the deficits around and the ‘comeback kids’ stuff makes for great newspaper and talk show fodder but it’s not an ideal way to win games and that’s what the club needs most right now. Wins.

Max De Luca is a journalist based in Toronto, Canada and has been published on Reuters, CBC, Yahoo, Goal, USA Today and many more. Starting today and every Wednesday, Max will pen a column exclusively for SempreInter.com discussing the most pressing topics of the day.

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