Leonardo: the Plight of a Coach Who is Often Humiliated

For a coach that caused so much controversy this past January, one would expect him to be a master tactician. Surely all this anger at his cross town switch had something to do with his coaching abilities. Could it really all have stemmed from the mere fact that Leonardo had been AC Milan through and through, and transferred to the vacant post-Rafa Benitez Inter when the opportunity arose? The answer seems to be an overwhelming yes. Two years of coaching has brought about at least three major, overwhelming defeats.

Inter’s latest disaster in the Champions’ League reflects more upon the man than it does the team.

These are players who are more than capable of winning.  Just last year the same team, largely unchanged in Europe with the notable acquisition of Andrea Ranocchia, went all the way in the Champions’ League. Built upon the brilliance that is Jose Mourinho, Inter lifted the Cup after banished both Bayern Munich and years of heartbreak. Javier Zanetti, Wesley Sneijder, Esteban Cambiasso: these men are winners, through and through. Could Schalke have perhaps, then, pried on an unmotivated group of players who had already won it all?

Unlikely. The squad has looked rejuvenated since Leo’s arrival, as if they truly wanted to win it all. After all, this is the side that features the only man in history to win back to back trebles, Samuel Eto’. If he has yet to tire of winning, there remains no excuse for any other player in this Inter side- or any club side for that matter.

Fatigue and a lack of player rotation may have played a role. Nine of the players who faced Schalke played Milan in the derby days before, which may have fatigued many of the key assets of the side. However, this too would have to be blamed largely on the coach. Although he does not control transfers, he does control the starting XI. Leo’s lack of rotation is no fault but his own.

Most importantly, his lack of tactics have hurt his sides massively before. AC Milan were thumped by Manchest United both home and away last year. Schalke sensed that Inter were there for the taking this weke and put five past them at the San Siro, a nearly scandalous amount given Italy’s image as the pantheon of great defending. Only a Dejan Stankovic wonder goal prevented the game from looking a total failure, although Diego Milito’s successful return was noteworthy as well. These however remain minor points in an overwhelming failure. Leonardo’s teams, for one reason or another, have not yet proven that they can defend capably. Attack? Certainly, but defending is more often than not found wanting.

Inter have traveled to Germany once already this European campaign and pulled off a great comeback against all odds, so writing them off halfway through a tie may be premature yet. However, needing to win by four clear goals to progress would be a bridge too far for certainly any team out there, and would require Inter to defy all expectations just as Schalke have.

Instead, what seems most probable is that Inter are out of the Champions’ League, and for the second year in a row, it is Leonardo who is left looking guilty. Milan may have exited the round before, but it remains doubtful that many Milanisti are calling for their old coach back.

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