Inter and Serie A’s Old Lady showing their age
It was a moment that symbolised the past strength and present failings of Serie A.
Zanetti and Del Piero are two of the finest players of their generation, but it’s a generation that has passed on. Del Piero turns 37 next week, and he is now more or less reduced to cameo appearances. But Zanetti, now 38, is not just a first-team regular but has played in every single one of Inter’s 13 matches so far.
Fit and dedicated though he is, that says more about the lack of quality coming through Inter’s ranks than Zanetti’s ability. In a pulsating first half, he and Esteban Cambiasso were simply overrun in midfield. At the back, Lucio and Maicon were struggling for pace even though Maicon popped up with one of his trademark strikes from the right to make the score 1-1 on the half hour.
Juventus should have been more than a goal clear at half-time. Apart from carving Inter open at will early on, they were denied an obvious penalty when man of the match Claudio Marchisio was brought down by Luca Castelazzi just before the break.
As it was, even they could not sustain such a high tempo, and settled without much difficulty for a 2-1 win that secured their place at the top.
At the moment Juventus must be favourites for the title, even if they are only a point clear of Lazio and Udinese, and two ahead of Milan.
Those three sides all have European ties this week, as do Napoli who once again went down to defeat in the run-up to a European game.
Napoli management have made it clear that the Champions League is the priority rather than Serie A. It seems to be putting added pressure on players who are unfamiliar with switching between domestic and European games, as well as coping with this season’s Group of Death.
Bayern Munich, who they play tomorrow, have been filling their boots just like Manchester City and even though their unbeaten run was ended by Hannover a week ago they have conceded just three league goals this season while scoring 30.
Unlike their rivals Juventus have no distractions. Instead they can focus exclusively on the league campaign, and are definitely enjoying life in their brand-new stadium.
The catalyst has however been their new coach, Antonio Conte, relatively inexperienced, with four different jobs in his four seasons, but with a ruthless determination that dates back to his playing days with the club, when he won five titles as well as the Champions League and UEFA Cup.
Conte says that Juventus had become a soft touch when he took over in the summer.
“I found a team that everyone liked. So my aim is to become very disliked as soon as possible. Winners are always disliked.”
INTER were once everyone’s favourite second team too — before Roberto Mancini and still more recently José Mourinho — and their current form is threatening to restore people’s sympathy.
On the edge of the relegation zone after a run of bad luck as well as poor performances, this is their worst start since 1946 when Italy lay in ruins and the partisans were still settling scores with the fascists.
Inter owner, Massimo Moratti, who has had his share of heartache as well as glory in charge of the club, is once again facing the accusation that he interferes too much, this time from Rafa Benitez, still smarting from his experience in charge.
The truth hurts, but it’s also true that there has been a lack of direction in management. Too many players have grown old together and promising young players have been neglected or mismanaged. Inter had the best group of youngsters in Italy but none of them has prospered, the most extreme example being full back Davide Santon, the jewel in the crown, who is now at Newcastle.
On Saturday night in the San Siro a banner was on display intended to goad Juventus fans “Io non rubo il campionato. In Serie B non son mai stato” (I’ve never stolen the title and I’ve never been in Serie B). Relegation can be discounted, but Inter need a good performance, as well as a good result, against Lille tomorrow.
