Inter's entire season proved to be a series of unexpected defeats, and the derby against Lazio represented the latest in a long chain of disappointing results. Simone Inzaghi's team, who failed to get going early on, surrendered a 2‑0 lead, ending a run of performances in which the defense suffered a continuous slide in quality. The result was further aggravated by offensive problems which, until then, had been hidden by the performances of the now injured Lautaro.
The most obvious problem is the lack of an attacking midfielder. Coach Chivu decided to field Marcus Thuram as the only attacker on the pitch, justifying the choice with the less than optimal conditions of Pio Esposito and Bonny, both recovering. However, the absence of a player capable of connecting the midfield with the attack made the team vulnerable. The choice to position Sucic and Diouf in attacking midfield roles did not produce the desired effect, and the match ended with the Nerazzurri team at a disadvantage.
The situation was further complicated by the lack of resources in midfield. Inter still have a 50% future resale interest in Davide Frattesi, but the team appears to have not found a suitable replacement for the attacking midfielder role. The lack of a player capable of carrying out attacking duties has left fans dissatisfied, especially considering that the midfield, if not Calhanoglu, has failed to reach the expected levels.
The team's current goal numbers reflect the offensive difficulty. Calhanoglu is the only player to have scored three goals, followed by Zielinski with two, while Barella and Sucic are still waiting to score their first goal. These data have brought Frattesi's case back to the surface, and many are wondering whether Giuseppe Marotta, the team's former coach, would still be willing to sell the player to Lazio for just 15 million euros.
Inter's future remains uncertain. With the team continuing to challenge for the title and trying to regain their form, midfield management remains a major concern. If the team can find a solution for the attacking midfielder role, it could significantly improve its offensive performance. Meanwhile, fans are left waiting to see if the club's management will be able to address the shortcomings in the central department and bring the team back to the level of competition they expected.