Inter head coach Simone Inzaghi may well have Inter right where they need to be in terms of the race to finish in the Champions League places in Serie A, and the return to fitness of striker Romelu Lukaku may be the final missing piece.
This is the view in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInter1908, who argue that the Nerazzurri coach could feel that finally having the Belgian at his disposal on a regular basis will give the team the extra boost that they need.
Inter’s shock loss to Empoli not only gave the impression that the team are out of the Serie A title race, but also raised some real doubts about whether or not the Nerazzurri would have their push for the top four derailed.
Finishing in the Champions League places is virtually the minimum goal for the club in the league, and failing to do so would be something close to a financial catastrophe.
Therefore, the fact that Inter have put some real distance between themselves and AC Milan with their victory in the derby, in addition to some recent slip-ups by the likes of Lazio and Atalanta, has given the team some breathing room again.
In the view of the Gazzetta, Inter are now in a class of their own, decisively behind runaway league leaders Napoli, but at the same time clearly ahead of the chasing pack in terms of the race for top four.
Moreover, the fact that Lukaku is finally returning to fitness and form could be timed perfectly for the Nerazzurri, the newspaper suggests, as it could be the extra missing piece that allows them to comfortably secure a place in Europe’s top club competition for next season.
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