“We will continue on for two more seasons.”
Those words by Erick Thohir at the end of June brought an end to speculation that the Indonesian tycoon would axe Walter Mazzarri, setting the stage for the former Napoli coach to once again set out to bring Inter back to the top of Italian football.
While last season the Nerazzurri finished ninth in Serie A, much more will be expected from Mazzarri this time around.
After clinching a Europa League berth last campaign, a renewed sense of optimism has blown through La Pinetina despite legends like Javier Zanetti, Esteban Cambiasso, Walter Samuel and Diego Milito moving on to pastures new.
With several new faces brought in to replace those players, the club’s faith in Mazzarri has certainly been reflected in the transfer market this summer, with players catered to the coach’s 3-5-2 being brought in.
With the squad having a plethora of central defenders and options on the wing, the tactician will likely continue with his pragmatic approach based on quick counter-attacks and wing-play.
Nemanja Vidic and his experience have been brought in to replace the outgoing Walter Samuel, providing Inter with veteran leadership in their back line. The likes of Yann M’Vila, Gary Medel and Pablo Osvaldo also joined Mazzarri’s new-look Inter side.
A common thread amongst these players is that they all look to embody Mazzarri’s tempermant: tenacious, combative and exuberant. Throw in Dodo, a player catered to perform better in a 3-5-2 than a flat back-four, and it is clear that the Nerazzurri have shaped their transfer dealings around the tactician’s ideas.
The questions surrounding how Inter will play this season have to do with the midfield, as it will likely dictate how successful — or unsuccessful — the Nerazzurri ultimately are this season.
After finishing last season with 15 draws, the most of any team in the league, it’s clear Inter were lacking that killer edge needed to bring home all three points.
In his hopes to resolve that issue, will Mazzarri have the gall to field Hernanes and Mateo Kovacic simultaneously on a regular basis or will we see one of them benched in favour of a more defensively robust option in M’Vila or Medel?
Mazzarri’s track record suggests the latter, but more than likely the Nerazzurri will have to lean on the former if they are to push for a top three finish this campaign.
Adding to that the Nerazzurri will be competing on three fronts this season, hinting that Mazzarri will have to shift from his tendency to rotate between 13-14 players, especially if he is to keep the ticking time bomb that is the Inter dressing room happy.
All of these factors mean that storylines will not be lacking at the Giuseppe Meazza this season, especially if the tactician is pushed into playing a more adventurous 4-3-3 formation, which is something that Thohir has stated he would like to see at some point this season.
With Mazzarri rarely deploying the tactic during the preseason (except during the Nerazzurri’s 3-1 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt), one has to wonder if that will change if Inter are able to capture one of Alessio Cerci, Ezequiel Lavezzi or Jonathan Biabiany at some point between now and the end of the transfer window.
Regardless of the formation used, progress and Mazzarri’s future moving forward will likely be measured through results and the development of Inter’s youth.
If either of those were to fail to live up to Thohir’s expectations, don’t be surprised if the call for a change in direction grows stronger.
And given Thohir’s willingness to enact swift and sweeping changes, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he proved just as expedient in deciding Mazzarri’s future.
Follow Adriano Boin on Twitter: @Boin44
