Inter Milan's Streaks End and Controversy Follows: Key Issues Answer Winter Transfer Window Questions

In an away match, Inter Milan drew 1-1 with Genoa. The result was not entirely unacceptable, as Genoa has managed to draw with Juventus and Napoli and secured a decisive victory over Roma at home. However, the media's criticism of Inter was intense after the match, not only because the team didn't play at a high level but also due to the additional losses the Nerazzurri suffered during the game. In first-half stoppage time, Radu Drăgușin's goal ended three significant records for Inter Milan.

First, it broke goalkeeper Yann Sommer's streak of 475 minutes without conceding a goal in the league, with the previous goal conceded coming from Dusan Vlahovic in the Derby d'Italia during Serie A Round 13. Sommer had been setting records for clean sheets, and the media hoped he would challenge both Inter and Serie A's historical records for goalkeepers. Second, it marked the first headed goal conceded by Inter in the league this season. Third, it was also the first goal they conceded from a corner this season. After the match, Simone Inzaghi was very displeased, criticizing the performance as unacceptable. He emphasized that set-pieces, both in attack and defense, should be a strong point for Inter's title challenge and not a source of dropped points.

While records are just external achievements, the more significant fallout for Inter Milan might lie in the controversies that arose during and after the game. In the 42nd minute, Marko Arnautović scored his first goal for Inter, becoming the second Austrian player in the club's history to score in Serie A, after Herbert Prohaska in 1982. However, the goal was controversial. Matteo Darmian threw a long throw-in, Yann Bisseck won the header at the near post, Nicolò Barella hit the post with a powerful shot, and Arnautović capitalized on the rebound. There were allegations of a push by Bisseck during the header. After the goal, Genoa players surrounded the referee to protest, but after communicating with the VAR assistant, the goal stood, leading to subsequent controversy.

In a league that increasingly values physical battles and often overlooks player protection, such disputes are common. For instance, Inter's goal was preceded by an incident with potential fouls that went unpunished. In football, there are times when teams benefit from such situations, and other times when they are disadvantaged. However, this is Inter Milan, and some believe that the club is perpetually expected to suffer from such decisions. Consequently, in the second half, the referee seemed to be compensating for the earlier decision, resulting in Barella receiving a yellow card for arguing with the referee after being fouled. He was subsequently substituted, visibly upset and kicking a water bottle in frustration, apparently directed at the referee.

Given the media frenzy, Inter Milan must prepare for potentially contentious decisions and forced adjustments in the future. This match resulted in considerable losses for Inter Milan. Where did things go wrong? Post-match, Italian media pointed much of the criticism towards Marcus Thuram, noting that this might have been the French forward's least effective game since joining Inter. Lautaro Martinez's absence was already a significant loss, and Thuram's poor performance only exacerbated Inter's struggles. Simone Inzaghi refused to use injuries as an excuse, instead highlighting objective reasons such as poor pitch conditions and the damaging goal conceded just before halftime. He insisted that the primary issue was the team's own shortcomings, emphasizing the need for improvement with 20 league games remaining.

OPTA highlighted two critical statistics. First, while Inter appeared to have 16 shots, only two had an expected goal (xG) value above 0.1—Barella's shot that hit the post and Arnautović's rebound, both from the same attack. This indicated a significant drop in Inter's ability to create high-quality chances. Second, Inter did not win their first corner until the 72nd minute, and their three wing-backs (starters and substitutes combined) only managed one key pass leading to a shot (by Carlos Augusto, which posed little threat). The lack of wing-back effectiveness was evident.

This situation is largely due to physical fatigue. Matteo Darmian, who has played excessively in recent matches, was particularly ineffective, losing five of six physical duels, failing in all long passes, and making nine unsuccessful passes out of 12 attempts, leading to turnovers. Even the most durable players are still human, not machines. Carlos Augusto performed slightly better but was also limited, losing four of five physical duels. Federico Dimarco's absence left the Brazilian unable to catch a break, leading to accumulated fatigue. Denzel Dumfries, just returning from injury, also struggled physically, reducing Inter's wing-back effectiveness and allowing opponents to concentrate on the center, overwhelming Inter's forwards. This may explain Thuram's difficulties.

These circumstances highlight the demands of the 3-5-2 formation, where wing-backs' back-and-forth movement and physical exertion far exceed that of full-backs in a four-defender system. Even with one match per week, rotation is necessary for wing-backs, let alone during congested schedules. Antonio Conte, known for his reluctance to rotate, still frequently brought in new wing-backs and rotated them even during single-competition seasons, understanding this necessity. With Juan Cuadrado potentially out for the season and both Dimarco and Dumfries injured, the negative impact was evident in this match, proving Marotta and Ausilio's judgment that reinforcing the wing-back position should be a priority in the winter transfer window, even over signing a forward.

However, some believe that Inter doesn't need to bolster their wing-back positions in the winter window. With Benjamin Pavard returning to full fitness and relieving Darmian, along with Dimarco's comeback, they argue that signing a forward should be the main focus. Football, a sport without definitive answers, remains open to interpretation. This match, however, demonstrated that a lack of depth or fitness in the wing-back positions could lead to significant consequences for Inter Milan.