Thiago Motta, how could you?!

This season, Thaigo Motta was Inter Milan’s good luck charm. The first 6 matches Motta appeared in, Inter won. Then, Motta’s Inter finally lost to Udinese at the San Siro, and the good luck charm turned bad. Or did it? In Motta’s next 6 appearances, Inter won maximum points and climbed back into the Scudetto race. Then, seemingly out of the blue, Motta abandoned Inter as he had previously abandoned Brazilian nationality.

Since Motta’s deadline day switch to PSG, Inter Milan have not won a single match. Motta was not available for their January 29^th loss away to Lecce. Subsequently, Inter went on to draw 4-4 with Palermo in memorable snow match and lose their next three matches by a combined score of 8-0. Something has definitely been missing in the defense, or perhaps, in front of the defense.

Esteban Cambiasso is not the same player he was in years past, not to say he lack quality. Age, however, is catching up with this squad, and Motta was one of the only young regulars in the team. Few have focused on Thiago Motta as the reason for Inter’s decline, but during their midseason resurgence, Inter were barely surviving close matches, and it’s hard to deny the defensive hole left by Thiago Motta.

Diego, Please Save Us!

For all his defensive mettle, Thiago Motta also managed to score 3 goals this season, all in matches Inter won. Inter’s lack of scoring has become a magnified as the Nerazurri have not managed a single goal in their last 3 matches. However, their goal scoring record is representative of their place in the table. Inter are currently 7^th in Italy, and have scored 34 goals in Serie A, 8^th best in Italy. Sometimes, statistics don’t lie.

In terms of goals allowed, however, Inter Milan are 7^th from the bottom. Yes, this is a defensive issue. However, as the old saying goes, “if you don’t score, you can’t win.” So who will score? Diego!

Under Claudio Ranieri, Diego Milito has shown signs of the goal scoring machine that won UEFA Footballer of the Year in 2010. Milito is currently tied for the 4^th most goals in Italy behind Antonio Di

Natale, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Edinson Cavani. Promising for Inter, Milito has scored 8 of his 12 Serie A after the clock struck 2012. With Giampaolo Pazzini only netting 5 goals in 22 league appearances, the team is counting on Diego to take over in the Champions League if they want to make a serious run.

Sniejder or Alvarez?

Yes, Inter were winning with Ricky Alvarez in the lineup and have not been winning with Wesley Sneijder in the lineup. However, the criticism is a bit harsh and short sighted. Neither Alvarez nor Sneijder are to blame for Inter’s current woes. Alvarez showed glimpses of talent in Sneijder’s absence, but he would hardly be the catalyst to prevent the trouble in the back. Sneijder has been slowly returning to form, but the Dutchman can surely not take the blame for an ageing defense and midfield. Also, neither Alvarez or Sneijder are to blame for Diego Forlan’s injury troubles or Pazzini’s incredible drop off.

When Bologna were battering Inter late in the match last Friday, Sneijder was one of the few players who clearly refused to give up. He worked tirelessly, but Inter were lacking shape, sharpness, and creativity, not to mention a defense. Still, if Inter go down in Marseille on Wednesday, as is expected, Wesley Sneijder won’t be the reason they lose. However, he might just be the reason they win.

Shahan Ahmed is the managing editor at AccuScore.com, a website that offers odds and match predictions for major sports worldwide. He is also the Director of Football at AccuScore. Follow him on Twitter @perfectpass and visit AccuScore.com for the latest Premier League, Champions League (and other top European football leagues) predictions and match previews.