This is not the Inter of Conte, but it is legitimate. And Lukaku responds to the prejudiced

Call Laukaku, Lukauro or as you please. The Lautaro combo Martinez-Romelu Lukaku is the one that is holding Inter clinging to the top of the standings, once again waiting for Juventus-Genoa this evening. And if Thiagone he could guess again the changes, who knows. In Brescia, nothing was seen of Antonio Conte's team, apart from the rigorous tactical set-up. That eleven aggressive, vertical, dynamic that has built the current ranking has given way to a tired group, in full reserve, author of two antithesis times.

In the first the Nerazzurri controlled, rarely accelerating, also thanks to the fortunate advantage of Martinez who is experiencing a period of King Midas. They were 4 minutes of spallettiana memory: constant giropalla, slow and predictable, without the strength to attack the depth and facilitated by a submissive Brescia, proposed with a 3-5-2 specular and too intimidated by Eugenio Corini. The data collected in the first half did not indicate any risk for an Inter able to control without squeezing too much, also playing on the energies. Instead, since the beginning of the second half, the hosts have changed gear, acquiring conviction minute by minute and forcing guests to hole up in the last 25 meters, in constant distress. When Lukaku, literally from nowhere, possessed by the spirit of Adriano invents the 2-0 seems a godsend for an Inter in obvious difficulty but that, from that moment onwards, can benefit from a double reassuring advantage.

But no, it would be too much for a team that lately has a tendency to hurt itself: Brozovic holes (still he), Bisoli slips into a hole and gives a crazy carambola that pushes the ball from Skriniar's knee to the bottom of the net. It so happens that a game on ice for a team in good health becomes an Everest for over 20 minutes, when despite the mixtures and balls thrown proudly in the heart of the area manned by a careful Handanovic the Nerazzurri manage, out of breath, to arrive at Fabbri's triple whistle with an advantage that is worth the momentary first place, as well as the fifth victory over as many away games.

Inter is tired, we certainly don't find it at the Rigamonti. Right now the players are trying to make a living, try to make the most of every favorable situation and don't have the energy to go and look for it continuously. There is, traveling at such a high cruising speed since August, with the aggravating circumstance of 3-4 injuries, it inevitably leads to paying duty. Fortunately, at the level of results the mentality is the right one, there is the will to win regardless of the context, even in apnea conditions such as recovery. We suffer, it is inevitable, we lack the brilliance and we must rely on the play of the individual when until a few weeks ago it was the collective that built the successes. No red alert, it is part of the game: the calendar does not help, already Saturday is back on the field in Bologna and it will be even harder than in Brescia. The hope is to recover at least Stefano Sensi, whose absence is perhaps the most expensive price paid so far on a technical-tactical level. You have to get to the stop getting the most, gritting your teeth and even agreeing to hide in your own half against lesser but healthier opponents on the card. Because if the legs do not turn as in the beginning, the head should never tarnish.

Mention for individuals: Brescia side, Balotelli tried to drag his own but once again he fell victim to his own character limits, which led him to take on a personal challenge against everyone rather than with his companions. Well the long awaited Tonali, which in June could cover the 100 km that separate the Lioness from Milan, no matter what Marotta says: the boy has personality, technique and does not disdain physical contact (ask Gagliardini for confirmation). Among the Nerazzurri, in addition to the increasingly incisive Lautaro (his stops to follow are from the soccer player's manual, needless to deny it) and to the unavoidable Barella, there is not much to rejoice. Not for a banal evening, but for the collective's difficulty in keeping the competitive level high. But woe to extract the usual 'Inter Crisis', because it does not exist. This is a trivial moment of legitimate fogging of those who, with few solutions on the bench, are forced to play every three days without ever being able to save money.

And then, defining a team currently in the rankings in crisis is more ridiculous than just continuing to criticize Lukaku, mirroring himself in the Icardi numbers in Paris. The Belgian in the league has scored 7 goals in 9 games and a half of A, stuff of bomber of race that only fools and prejudiced do not see. And a network like the one at the Rigamonti, as valuable as it is precious and decisive, reveals that Big Rom it is not just a totem to be placed inside the area to make a door. When he is recognized he will always be too late.