Inter: Antonio Conte's side at risk of throwing their season away

This season hasn't gone as planned for Antonio Conte so far.

The Nerazzurri are presently sitting outside the top four, and look defensively fragile, something that couldn't have been said only three months ago.

Inter: The season so far

It's been a bit of a mixed bag for Inter so far. There have been good performances, namely against Benevento and their incredible comeback victory against Fiorentina on the opening day.

On the other hand, Inter's defence has already leaked 11 goals in seven games, four games less than it took them to concede the same amount last season. There's a defensive fragility about Inter this season that's never been visible in a Conte side before.

Antonio Conte clearly wants to aim for the jugular now, and isn't thinking to the future of the club.

Signings such as Aleksandr Kolarov and Arturo Vidal hardly scream long-term thinking on Conte's behalf. However he did request those players, and receive them he did.

Their squad is considerably older now than it was a year ago. Matteo Darmian was another signing for the here and the now, as was the permanent transfer of Alexis Sanchez.

The signing of Achraf Hakimi from Real Madrid does look like an inspired choice however, with the right-back's rapid acceleration proving to be a real source of goals for Inter.

Inter finished second last season, but are struggling to break into the top four, but it must be said that it is very early days in the season. However with Serie A being as competitive as it has been for many years, there could be a good chance that should they lose further ground between now and Christmas, they could fail to make it into the top four for next season.

Inter are currently struggling in their Champions League group, and sit last in Group B. Should they tumble out and end in the Europa League, one would expect Conte to prefer the league over that competition, and Inter could climb up the table.

Inter: Grade C-

This Inter really doesn't look like a Conte side. They are remarkably fragile at the back, which has never been the hallmark of a side coached by Conte. This in part has been affected by the absence of Milan Skrinriar due to Covid.

There's also a urgent lack of creativity in midfield from Inter. Stefano Sensi is such a creative player, but the former Sassuolo player has been almost permanently injured since arriving 15 months ago. Christian Eriksen has failed to adapt to Conte's system, and it's been reported the former Tottenham player could leave either in January or next summer.

Inter have showed glimpses of what they can do, but the burden has fell to Romelu Lukaku to score goals, and if he isn't firing, Inter struggle. Lautaro Martinez is another individual struggling to recapture last season's form.

Can Inter turn their season around following the International break?

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Romelu Lukaku

76

Achraf Hakimi

81

Nicolò Barella

80

Lautaro Martínez

87

Inter

90

Milan

81

Juventus

74

Napoli

73

Roma

75

Serie A