Andrea Stramaccioni, former Inter Milan coach and current DAZN commentator, shared his insights on the current Serie A season, highlighting Thiago Motta’s Juventus. Speaking with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Stramaccioni talked about the title race, Torino’s surprising run of form, why Dusan Vlahovic could be the key for the Bianconeri and why Inter are still the favourites:
“I haven’t changed my mind, I still think the same as at the start of the season: Inter, in terms of squad and potential, remains the strongest in Serie A and one of the best in Europe.”
However, a year ago Inter had a perfect record after five rounds, while now they have 8 points. Is it just a matter of less hunger?
“Against Genoa, Monza, and in the second half of the derby, the Nerazzurri didn’t play at the levels seen against Atalanta and City. But it’s not a question of hunger.”
Is the real Inter the one from Manchester or the one from the derby?
“The one from Manchester. It’s a mental issue. And of higher expectations. The last two seasons were different. In 2022-23, with Napoli running away and the Scudetto out of reach, Inter had a subpar league campaign but a mentally extraordinary Champions League. Last season was the opposite: head, soul, and heart focused on the Scudetto, with a bitter and premature elimination in Europe. This is the first season where Inter is obligated, due to the value and depth of the squad, to have a double, strong expectation. It’s a mental step that Inter must and can take as a team, coach, and club.”
Lautaro isn’t scoring anymore: what’s the problem?
“We’re talking about the best finisher in Serie A and one of the best in the world. Lautaro has paid for the Copa America and a start to the season where he played despite not being in top condition. In these first matches, I’ve noticed he drops back even more than usual: partly due to generosity and partly influenced by Thuram’s new interpretation as a pure number nine. Trust me: Lautaro will return to scoring loads of goals. In the derby he didn’t score, but at the end of the game he proved to be a great captain: he faced the music, angry but optimistic. A leader.”
Juventus have one more point than Inter. Is Thiago Motta’s revolution ahead of schedule because they haven’t conceded a goal in Serie A yet, or is it progressing slowly given the last three 0-0 draws?
“Thiago is an instinctive, brilliant coach. He’s still studying the best synergies and combinations of a Juventus revolutionized in the summer. Match after match, he seems to be ‘adding’ a piece to his technical-tactical mosaic. Defensive solidity is something objective and rare for a coach on a new bench. Juventus is strong. And if they start finding goals, they become tough to face. The Bianconeri have everything: compactness, organization, ideas, a lot of quality, and an environment that’s become charged and united again.”
As a coach, would you be happy like this, without conceding goals like Thiago Motta, or would you have preferred to score more at the cost of not having a clean sheet after five rounds?
“Attacks excite the fans, but without defenses, you don’t win trophies. As a coach, I’d sign up to start a new cycle without conceding goals.”
Vlahovic is stuck at two goals against Verona. Are you optimistic like you are for Lautaro?
“Dusan has everything to be the hot terminal of this Juve and one of the best in Serie A. But, be careful: Thiago likes to play possession. And now Vlahovic, unlike at the start of the season when he had Yildiz behind him, has an attacking midfielder like Koopmeiners who ‘links’ more with the midfield.”
So?
“Vlahovic, very strong near the area, needs to improve in helping the team with his back to goal. Especially when he’s far from the goal, in order to provide quality for teammates making runs.”
Are you more surprised by Milan’s points (8 like Inter) or their difficult start to the season?
“I was surprised by the Rossoneri’s matches up to the one with Liverpool: not so much for the results, but for the quality of the performances. Milan had been too ugly and not enough of a team to be the real one. In the derby, however, they showed enormous potential.”
What aspect of the Rossoneri did you like?
“The midfield pair: Fofana and Reijnders were perfect. Complementary destroyer and playmaker, with a significant tactical weight in the defensive phase to bear, aggravated by the value and potential numerical superiority of Inter’s three midfielders who are among the best in Europe.”
If you met Ibra in a restaurant in Milan?
“I would ask Zlatan how his way of influencing the situation has changed mentally, moving from the field to an overall vision that obviously as a player you can’t have.”
Of the big teams, Napoli have started the best. Is Conte the real anti-Inter for the Scudetto?
“They’ll fight with the Milan teams and Juve. Antonio is excellent, but compliments to De Laurentiis. Perfectly calibrated signings tailored to his technical leader. And I’m not just referring to Lukaku, but also to Buongiorno, McTominay, Neres, and the recovery of Di Lorenzo, which is as good as a new signing.”
Is Conte’s Napoli, in terms of personnel, stronger or weaker than Spalletti’s Scudetto-winning side?
“Kim or Buongiorno, Osimhen or Lukaku, Zielinski or McTominay are balanced choices: it’s a matter of taste, but in terms of absolute values, we’re there. Spalletti achieved something extraordinary, not only for winning a historic Scudetto but also for the play and dominance expressed. Conte, given the Azzurri’s disastrous last season, has already done incredible work – not to be underestimated – bringing back enthusiasm. And how good Antonio was against Juve: he changed ‘skin’ putting the characteristics of the players ahead of his own.”
Meanwhile, Torino are at the top…
“A deserved lead, solid team. Vanoli has enriched, integrated, and enhanced with intelligence and principles of play the basic setup inherited from Juric. And then there’s Zapata, one of the strongest and most underrated strikers in the league.”
