Football FanCast guest columnist James Martin looks at the European woes of Inter Milan.

After whimpering to a 2-0 defeat against the reigning champions Barcelona it would seem that Inter Milan’s 44 year wait for the European Cup is set to last a bit longer.  The Spanish side’s complete domination suggests that Jose Mourinho’s men are still some way off being able to compete with the continents elite.  The result was the continuation of a worrying trend which has seen the Nerazzurri stutter on the European stage, a stark contrast to the clubs fortunes in Serie A where the fallout from the match fixing scandal of 2006 has allowed Inter to establish almost total dominance.

The competition has never been a happy hunting ground for the boys in black and blue who have reached the semi finals only once in nine appearances. You have to look back to 2003/04 group stages for Inters last truly impressive European result. This was a 3-0 victory over Arsenal at Highbury and yet the shine was even taken off this when the return fixture resulted in a 5-1 defeat.  The Nerazzurri have failed to overcome the last 16 in the past three seasons and have managed only one win in their last ten encounters with English and Spanish opposition.

Potential reasons for this continued failure are numerous. Prior to the scandal of 2006 Inter suffered from something of an inferiority complex in the face of rivals Juventus and Milan and while this has been shaken off at home perhaps an element still remains in Europe, thus explaining Inter’s increasingly predictable collapse when faced with half decent opposition.  Furthermore the dominance of Serie A may even be proving to be a disadvantage.   The club has arguably become so used to winning with relative comfort that the players are unable to make the required step up in quality which European competition demands.

Regarding the playing personnel a stifling lack of creativity is hindering an otherwise strong squad.  Wesley Sneijder can fill the attacking midfield void but can Inter really afford to place their hopes in one injury prone player?  Ricardo Quaresma and Mancini are alternatives but neither has impressed and as a result has lost the trust of Mourinho.  Inter possess two of the best forwards around in Samuel Eto’o and Diego Milito but without a creative midfield to provide chances they are essentially redundant.

Whatever the reason Internazionale still look a long way short of re-capturing the trophy they won in the 1960’s. If the so called ‘special one’ Mourinho is unable to transfer the clubs domestic dominance to the European stage then who can? Furthermore with the old lady Juventus steadily regaining her strength Inter will soon have to start worrying about winning at home let alone abroad.

Related articles

• Would this signing see Man City move from laughing stock to the real deal?
• Will Arsenal look to put the Frenchman out of his misery?
• Watch Live Italian Serie A Football on Saturday – Inter Milan vs Catania
• Tottenham’s hopes of securing January deal dashed
• The kind of riches that separate Man United from the rest