Inter remain the side to beat in Massimo Mauro’s reading of the Serie A season, with the former Napoli and Juventus midfielder seeing a clear gap between Cristian Chivu’s squad and the rest of the division. The early table may still offer company at the summit, but Mauro believes the championship will turn on Inter’s ability to preserve their hunger and intensity.
The decision
For Mauro, Inter are alone on the front row. He considers Chivu to have the deepest and strongest group in the league, with their own standards rather than a rival’s progress the main possible threat to their campaign. If the Nerazzurri keep their physical edge and their desire to win, he sees no team equipped to match them over a full season.
Roma are the alternative he would most like to see emerge. Mauro praised Gian Piero Gasperini’s ideas, mentality and managerial record, but questioned whether three key figures can sustain their level from August to May: Paulo Dybala, Donyell Malen and Manu Koné.
Koné was described as an outstanding midfielder whose work rate, tackling and willingness to cover ground can disguise a below-par display. Yet Mauro does not regard consistency as the Frenchman’s defining quality. More broadly, he feels Roma’s level is heavily tied to the form and availability of that trio, because the reserve options do not offer the same quality.
Dybala is the clearest case. If the Argentine can feature throughout the campaign, Roma’s prospects will change considerably. If his availability follows the pattern of much of his career and amounts to roughly half a season, Gasperini’s team will look different.
Lazio may be level with Inter in the standings under Gennaro Gattuso and have the benefit of no European commitments, but Mauro does not view them as credible title challengers. He has been impressed by the way the Biancocelesti have won matches, particularly the attractive attacking combinations that have produced their goals. Still, he believes their squad lacks the depth required to stay with Inter, Roma, Milan and Juventus, predicting Lazio will ultimately finish behind all four.
Sunday’s picture
The latest round left both Juventus and Milan short of the response expected from them. Mauro sees a similar problem in the work of Rúben Amorim and Luciano Spalletti: against compact opponents, their sides have struggled to find a route through.
In his view, too much of each attack is placed on wide players who cut inside to shoot rather than cross or supply the central striker. Mauro argued that wide forwards cannot become the entire attacking reference point if their goal return is limited, and said Juventus and Milan often lack an alternative when those players fail to produce an individual moment.
He pointed to Juventus’ match with Cagliari, where the Bianconeri created two or three chances only after Alajbegovic entered and delivered two proper crosses. The wider issue, Mauro believes, is not the technical level of the players but the responsibility placed upon them in the final third.
Both clubs, he said, are short of high-level creative players between midfield and attack. Neither side consistently finds the pass behind a settled defence. Douglas Luiz was cited as a player who keeps possession safely with short passes but does not offer the risk or invention needed against a low block. Juventus are also without Kenan Yildiz, whom Mauro called the most important player in their squad, while stressing that his absence should not become an excuse.
That is why Mauro rates Roma ahead of Milan and Juventus at present, and also places Napoli above them despite the champions’ slow start.
Napoli showed improvement against Frosinone when Massimiliano Allegri selected a changed side and used a three-man defence. Mauro felt the adjustment was sensible, given the strength of Napoli’s wide players, but said there remains considerable work to do if they are to trouble Inter.
The concern is that Napoli’s wide men can become hurried with the ball, choosing to attack the goal themselves rather than serve Rasmus Hojlund. The Danish striker has consequently seen too little of the ball. Mauro had expected Lorenzo Lucca to offer Allegri a more dependable alternative, but believes Hojlund is effectively the coach’s only true centre-forward.
Scott McTominay’s return could therefore matter. Mauro sees him as the kind of midfielder every side using a 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 would want: someone capable of arriving in the box as an extra attacker and contributing goals. He sees no issue in McTominay playing alongside Kevin De Bruyne, provided the Belgian continues to work as hard as he has so far.
Como, meanwhile, are already six points off the leaders after beginning the season among the teams discussed as possible contenders. Mauro believes Cesc Fabregas now faces a more difficult version of last season’s challenge. Players who performed beyond expectation must reproduce that level, but they must do so while carrying greater status.
Last term, opponents often approached Como believing they could take the ball from them, only to be punished. This season, teams are more cautious and prepared when they meet Fabregas’ side. Mauro expects a demanding campaign and noted that several Como players were experiencing a major championship at this level for the first time last year. In that context, securing European football again would represent a significant achievement.
