And on the fourth attempt Mancini hits the mark. Inter wins in Verona and the coach from Jesi finds the first success of his Nerazzurri adventure (bis). Three fundamental points those of Bentegodi, for the standings (now third place is 6 points away) and for morale. Because after last week's crash against Udinese, another misstep would have been fatal for Nerazzurri ambitions. Instead Inter knew how to score, suffer and manage the match: a team performance, moreover against an opponent in a positive streak for 5 days.
“The victory was important, it allows us to get closer in the standings and gain some confidence – Mancini said. – I'm also satisfied because we didn't concede goals and because the boys do well what we do in training. Now Lazio awaits us, another match to win in order to grow further”. Then comes the Christmas break and, immediately after, the January market. From which Mancio expects a lot, as also underlined last night.
“At the moment the 4-3-1-2 is one of the few modules we can do – he thought. – However, I remain convinced that having offensive wingers makes a team much more dangerous and competitive…”. In short, no Balotelli (moreover yesterday the Nerazzurri Curva repeatedly expressed its dissent on the possible operation), yes to a "heavy" winger like Cerci or Lavezzi, so to speak. We'll see, in the meantime the coach from Jesi has to find the results with the men available.
Last night's 4-3-1-2 saw D'Ambrosio replace Dodò and the Icardi-Palacio duo up front, supported by a finally convincing Kovacic. It was the Croatian himself who unlocked the match after Handanovic, a few minutes before, had been sensational on a header by Paloschi. Wrong goal conceded goal, the oldest law of football struck again, albeit due to the great responsibility of the Cliven defense which left the Nerazzurri 10 free to beat Bizzarri with a close right-footed shot.
There came the ability to suffer, hitherto unknown. Chievo did come close to equalizing with Meggiorini (Handanovic still very good) and Sardo (crossbar) but Inter held up the pitch well, making themselves dangerous several times. And when Ranocchia, at the start of the second half (56'), crossed with a left-footed striker's volley, it was understood that it could be the right night. The certainty arrived in the 73rd minute: Botta, as soon as he entered for the final assault, was expelled for protesting.
And so the last quarter of an hour slipped smoothly towards a very important victory, perhaps even fundamental. Third place remains far away but not unattainable. And next Sunday the calendar will offer the match against Lazio, currently on the lowest step of the podium together with the Genoese. In short, the wheel can still turn, Mancini has the task of steering it in the right direction.
