By Sportswriter Yao Youming
XI'AN, China, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- Having snatching five wins and one draw in the first six rounds of the 2017/2018 Serie A, Inter Milan are dreaming of returning to the elite group.
The team has accumulated more points than those of the same stage in the legendary 2009/2010 season in which Jose Mourinho brought in three trophies, making Inter the only Italian team to earn three major titles in one season.
Back then, Mourinho's team only had four wins, one draw and one defeat in the first six Serie A games.
That's why the unbeaten record this season is so surprising as compared to last season's disappointing opening. Inter won only four games in the first 11 rounds of the 2016/2017 season.
Since this summer, Luciano Spalletti's side has beaten Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Fiorentina and AS Roma, remaining invincible in the latest 12 games.
THREATS AHEAD
Inter Milan are making strides, but hidden worries exist.
The team's attack is criticized to be overdependent on Mauro Icardi. The captain scored six goals in six appearances. His compatriot Diego Milito scored five in 2009 when the first six rounds of Serie A finished.
Back in the 2009 season, Samuel Eto'o, Wesley Sneijder and even Lucimar da Silva Ferreira (Lucio) could score goals in the struggle matches.
How to edge his opponent without Icardi is a question for Spalletti to consider.
Compared with the big spenders in the transfer market, Inter remains prudent in the summer. The squad seems less competitive and there's no guaranteed victory for Inter to face defending champion Juventus or Napoli FC. Bolder investment in the winter transfer window might be needed.
Most Italian teams will face Inter with solid defense systems. If Spalletti couldn't come up with more attacking tactics, "the Nerazzurri" may run into trouble.
Another uncertainty lies in "who laughs last" as the team failed to win a single game in the next eight rounds after earning 12 victories from the 13th to 28th round of the 2016/2017 season.
To avoid repeating the tragic, Spalletti needs to build resilience for his players both physically and mentally.
"We passed the ball around too slowly but the lads played as a team. They shown the right intentions and played in an ordered manner. They closed us down well and had players running at us, therefore we did well not to give hardly anything away. Obviously we should have done something more when playing in and around area, using more creativity and inventiveness. We must be more unpredictable in possession, creating space and pushing forwards," said Spalletti after overcoming Genoa 1-0.
"We are Inter and for this reason we must be looking to surpass our limits," he added.
