<div style="float: right;margin-left: 5px"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/sports-news-august-2010/image/9545241?term=Inter+Milan" target="_blank"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://view1.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9545241/sports-news-august-2010/sports-news-august-2010.jpg?size=234&amp;imageId=9545241" border="0" alt="Aug. 14, 2010 - 06320946 date 13 08 2010 Copyright imago Gribaudi ImagePhoto GC Bari 13 08 2010 Trofeo Tim Milan Inter Photo Giuseppe Celeste Image Sports Nella Photo premiazione Inter PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxITA Bari men Football ITA Series A 2011 try out Vdig xmk 2010 horizontal Highlight premiumd." width="234" height="156"></figure></div></a></div>
How can you follow up a season which finished with a treble? After 5 years of dominance in Italy, Inter Milan finally dominated in Europe, and now Rafa Benitez is left with a tough job on his hands. Benitez wants to change a lot of things with Inter, starting with the playing syle. The Spanish coach would like the team to play with more possession and less counter-attacking, probably what could be considered a Spanish style. But it won’t be easy, not at all, although Benitez has top class players to work with, he also has to find the right balance. And while Mourinho won the Serie A his first try, maybe Benitez could end the run with this new “Rafa-revolution”.

New signings
After getting the cash from winning the treble, you’d think that Massimo Moratti would strengthen the squad with plenty of quality players, but that’s not the case. Instead, Moratti seems to be building a team for the future, the Inter Milan president has teamed up with Benitez to not only win this season, but also win in the future. Biabiany from Parma is a great player who was already part of Inter’s scheme, and now the speedy French forward will be a great replacement for Balotelli who left for Manchester City. Along with him, Faraoni joined from Lazio, a 19 year-old defender, and Obinna returned from Malaga, where he was on loan. To replace retired Toldo, Inter bought Castellazzi from Sampdoria, and they made sure to bring <a href="http://www.serieatalk.com/8-of-serie-as-best-prospects/2831">Coutinho</a> to Italy this year. The 18 year-old Brazilian seems to be one of the best prospects in the Serie A, and he’s the future of the Brazilian national team.
What’s missing
While Inter aren’t missing much, they have lost Mario Balotelli, an important forward who could be replaced by a new player, while the idea was to buy Mesut Ozil from Werder Bremen, the German wonder-boy was bought by Real Madrid/Jose Mourinho. Now Inter is looking at Genoa’s Sculli, or there’s a remote possibility that Inter would try and buy Forlan from Atletico Madrid, but even if a new forward isn’t bought, Inter can survive with Obinna, Coutinho, and Biabiany. Another useful player could be a midfielder, especially since Zanetti is at the end of his career, Cambiasso turned 30 today, and Thiago Motta does pick up yellow cards. A player like Genoa’s Franco Zuculini, or like a young Mascherano or Flamini, but there’s no urgency in this department. Another possible area to reinforce is the fullback position, if Maicon leaves (which isn’t very possible, but you never know with Real Mourinho), then a right fullback would be needed.
Formation
Rafael Benitez has stated that he wants to continue with Mourinho’s 4-2-3-1, utilizing the wingers to stretch the defense and penetrate using Sneijder’s creativity. While there would be no change to the starting 11 from last year with Julio Cesar in goal, Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Chivu in defense, Cambiasso and Zanetti playing as defensive midfielders with Eto’o on the right, Pandev on the left, and Sneijder behind Diego Milito up front, Benitez could introduce some young players in the squad. It’s most likely that Inter could start playing more Italians this upcoming season with Benitez at the helm, and we could see Santon re-introduced into the starting 11 after his past tormented season. It will be interesting to see if Benitez will rotate players, or stick with a starting 11, and I also want to see how he’ll be able to satisfy Eto’o who wants to score at least 20 goals this season.
The Inter of the future
After seeing some youngster’s performances in the Tim Cup (which Inter won over Juventus and AC Milan), Benitez could introduce four youngsters, of which three are Italian. The most possible would be Nwankwo, a Nigerian defensive midfielder who looks like a young Cambiasso in the making, physically strong, a cool head, and a tactical know-how. Another possible player to be introduced into the team is Felice Natalino, who played out one of the best 45 minutes that I’d ever seen a fullback play. The Italian replaced Maicon and made the right wing his own, nothing got past him and he was unstoppable as he ran up the field to create chances and throw in crosses. Along with Natalino Benitez put Benedetti in the center of defense, while he wasn’t severely tested by AC Milan’s attack, he had no trouble and was put in a solid performance. And the final name which you might’ve already heard is Cristiano Biraghi, the left full-back who scored the wonder-volley against Manchester City and put in another good performance in the Tim Cup.
While Benitez has a revolution in mind, which includes possession, goals, youngsters, and attacking play, in the end it could all turn out to be a failure. The reason I’m slightly negative is that a manager which follows Mourinho will always be cursed, he will never have the same flair, or cool that Mourinho had, he’ll never leave the same interviews and charm us with his wild antics. So just this puts Benitez under pressure, then thinking that he has to at least win the treble to surpass Mourinho could distract him, and maybe this distraction could cause Inter’s run to end.
What are your thoughts on Inter Milan? Share them by commenting below!

Serie A preview &#8211; Will Inter's run end?

Serie A preview - Will Inter's run end? - World Soccer Talk

Serie A preview – Will Inter's run end?

<div style="float: right;margin-left: 5px"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignright" style="border: 0px initial initial" src="http://view4.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9128152/sports-news-june-2010/sports-news-june-2010.jpg?size=500&amp;imageId=9128152" border="0" alt="June 16, 2010 - 06042868 date 15 06 2010 Copyright imago Sesa Appiano Gentile 15 06 2010 Calcio Presentazione Nuovo Allenatore Inter Rafael Benitez New Inter team manager Rafael Benitez Attends A Press Conference Photo Inside photo PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxITAxFRA marmorinoxnewp Football men 2010 2011 ITA Series A Photo shooting premiumd Vdig xkg 2010 Square." width="280" height="268"></figure></div></div>
Benitez has finally arrived at Inter Milan, the Spanish manager has signed a two-year contract to bind himself with the European champions. It seems that while Benitez is a great manager, he certainly is perceived as defensive. And while Benitez has said that he likes Jose Mourinho’s old 4-2-3-1 system, it seems like he’ll certainly be changing up the players…
While it seems like the deal for Mascherano is done, there are plenty of other players that Inter Milan will look to splash some cash on, especially if Maicon and Milito leave for Real Madrid. Replacement for the right-back would probably be Lichtsteiner, but Dani Alves would be the dream replacement. As for Milito, the names being mentioned are Carlos Tevez, Fernando Torres, Kun Aguero, and maybe Higuain from Real Madrid.
Plenty of star names are being mentioned, but Inter Milan will also try and go for a couple of youngsters, the first being Lyon’s left-back/wing-back/winger Michel Bastos. A very promising Brazilian who is currently playing with Brazil in the 2010 World Cup who has already attracted envoys from Inter to see him in live action. Another young talent could be Mesut Ozil, who is currently a free agent having just finished playing this season for Bundesliga side, Werder Bremen. The young German lit up the World Cup playing with Germany as he helped demolish Australia 4-0, and he will probably be one of the emerging stars from this World Cup.
With Benitez’s arrival, we have also seen Quaresma’s departure and Castellazzi’s arrival. The Portuguese winger was sold to Besiktas for 7.5 million euros and has been a major disappointment for Inter Milan fans, only scoring one goal for Inter thanks to a lucky deflection. Castellazzi on the other hand has arrived to replace the aging Toldo and Orlandoni, and while Castellazzi isn’t very young at 34, he’s certainly a more solid replacement. If Inter were able to get rid of Orlandoni and Toldo, we could also see Vid Belec begin to make some appearances in the goal-keeper role.
Inter Milan have also bought McDonald Mariga and Jonathan Biabiany, both very promising young player who could begin to revolutionize the team with a younger group of players. Along with them two, we could see Rene Khrin and Joel Obi begin to step up to the plate as the Rafa revolution takes over…

Benitez arrives at Inter Milan with change

Benitez arrives at Inter Milan with change - World Soccer Talk

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Serie A preview – Will Inter's run end?

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Benitez arrives at Inter Milan with change