The problem with Inter's game plan was that it was unsustainable. There are at least 4 teams better than them in building attacks - Juve, Napoli, Roma and Fiorentina, whom also have a defense at least on pretty much the same level. So, it was inevitable for them to go to 5th place and fight with nails and tooth for that EL place.
Inter relied too much on their defensive build up and non-existent creative play, but some individual efforts from Jovetic, Palacio and Icardi. This is a recipe for a disaster and I'm surprised that they managed to stay up for so long. They desperately need players like Snejder and Stankovic, but they have the likes of Melo and Medel instead. What a joke