1. Tighten up the Defence
While it might seem obvious having conceded four goals in the first half against the Isolani, Inter’s defence is looking as creaky as ever. Walter Mazzarri’s back-three composed with the likes of Nemanja Vidic or Marco Andreolli are failing to convince. With three recognised centre backs, no team should be able to get four shots away within the six-yard box and yet the most distant of Cagliari’s goals was Marco Sau’s strike from the penalty spot. Against a team like Qarabag, who have scored eight goals in their last four games, leaving such spaces open could be fatal. After all, in Reynaldo and Vugar Nadirov, there is personnel there to punish Inter.
2. Possession, possession, possession!
3. Feed Icardi
In Mauro Icardi’s first 180 minutes of football this season, he had 10 shots, five of which were on target and three of which were goals (all against Sassuolo). During the second 180 (184 to be precise) he had one shot, which was off target. The Argentinian remains Inter’s best chance of scoring, so for him to be marginalised/isolated could prove fatal. It goes without saying that without shooting, Icardi cannot score. As such, Inter’s worrying form in front of goal requires improving; 40% of the Nerazzurri’s shots on target to date came during the game against Sassuolo.
4. Vidic must Dominate
5. Involve the Wing-Backs
The formationn Inter utilise means that there is more space on the flanks than in the middle of the pitch. Against Dnipro, both Dodo and Danilo D’Ambrosio were flawless — the latter scored the only goal. Just as Qarabag will try to find spaces out wide and work the ball into the box, so should the Nerazzurri. Icardi, Pablo Osvaldo and Rodrigo Palacio have won a combined 25% of their aerial duels this season… In other words, crosses into the box either need improving or must be relinquished altogether.