Inter of discontent

By Ivan Carvalho

Had it not been for the wretched behaviour of the supporters who brought their UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg against neighbours AC Milan to a premature end, FC Internazionale Milano might have concluded that they had had a satisfactory season in Europe.

Unhappy ending
While they already looked set to be knocked out, trailing 3-0 on aggregate, the hail of flares which cascaded on to the pitch at the San Siro, one hitting Milan goalkeeper Dida, marked an unhappy end to a campaign which should have left Inter with plenty of optimism for the future.

Excellent results
Inter have only lost three games all season and they remain on course for next season's Champions League, although should they qualify they will be hampered during the 2005/06 season by the punishment for the San Siro debacle, which will see their next four European ties played behind closed doors.

Milan derbies
All three of Inter's defeats this season have come against Milan, and Inter fans have now been waiting since March 2002 for their side to triumph in a Milan derby. But while his first season in charge has not seen coach Roberto Mancini reverse that trend, he remains convinced that it has been a close call.

Right choices
"If I played all the Milan derbies I have taken charge of again, I would make exactly the same choices because I thought we played well in all four games," he said. "I don't believe they are better than us, despite what the numbers say. Unfortunately, they have always made the best of the tiniest chances."

Frustrating nights
That theory seemed to be played out in the second leg of the quarter-final as Inter dominated possession, but could not break through. "It epitomised all the games we have played against them this season," said Mancini. "We played well and my players gave it their all, but we were punished from their first shot."

Striking strength
Milan remain the major stumbling block for Inter, but there has been much to celebrate on the pitch. With seven goals in Europe this season, Brazilian striker Adriano has been exceptional while another forward, Nigerian Obafemi Martins, has also shown devastating pace and agility.

Midfield style
In midfield, Juan Sebástian Verón fitted in well in a central position during his first campaign with Inter, and would have added a few goals to his tally in the quarter-finals but for Dida's goalkeeping heroics. Meanwhile, former Real Madrid CF midfield player Esteban Cambiasso has shone since being placed above Dutchman Edgar Davids in the Inter pecking order.

Cannavaro vacuum
The only problems Inter have experienced on the pitch have been in defence, where Fabio Cannavaro's departure for Juventus FC in pre-season left a huge gap in Mancini's plans. Experiments with different combinations of central defenders have yet to bear fruit.

Set-piece weakness
Controversially, Mancini has tended to field free-kick specialist Sinisa Mihajlovic in place of the taller Marco Materazzi - a decision which has come at a price, as Inter have continued to leak goals from set pieces. Tellingly, both Jaap Stam and Andriy Shevchenko's goals in the first leg of the quarter-finals for Milan were headers from free-kicks.

Next season
If Inter are to make better progress next season, that is a problem that they will have to resolve, although having been thwarted by their local rivals in two of the last three seasons, avoiding Milan in the Champions League next season would also make a welcome change.