I'm not so fatalistic. We are the weaker side. Inter has money coming out of every orifice and pore in the organization. They are physically tougher, taller, stronger, faster, and more intimidating. They also played at home.
And while they arguably should have won 2-0 or 3-0, we made it interesting for good chunks of the match.
I wouldn't rule out the possibility of taking points back at the Stadio Olimpico. So losing 1-0 to Inter in the San Siro is hardly shameful. We've done far worse than that with our Scudetto-winning squads.
And should we deserve to defeat Inter in the San Siro? I mean you always never say die as a Juventino, but this club and its players do not deserve to. Flat out. I don't want this board getting all cocky, thinking that their dubious transfer strategy and investments are sufficient to win the silverware this club deserves.
I was surprised that Inter pressed a sort of long-ball strategy, and our offside trap was working for the most part. But it sure made for a lot of nervous moments and goalie reflexes. We were completely made vulnerable on the wings -- and rightly so. It's where our defense is weakest.
Offensively was the big disappointment, however. While we showed decent build-up at times, it was always squandered in a mass of legs and blocked passes and shots as we got close to the Inter box. That is where we truly lost this match today. And my ratings reflect that.
Manninger - 6.5 - Some class reflex moves. But a couple of mental mistakes. Can't fault him for the goal. Sort of have to give him our MOM.
Grygera - 4.5 - Left us exposed on the wing far too often. Did nothing offensively either. Pretty useless.
Legrottaglie - 6 - One huge mistake that fortunately wasn't converted, but otherwise I don't think he was so terrible.
Chiellini - 6 - Last season he came up monstrously in both matches against Zlatan. This one was 50/50.
Molinaro - 5.5 - Not terrible, not great. Covered better than Grygera.
Marchionni - 4.5 - Generally useless.
Marchisio - 6 - I liked his play, even if it was mostly at the defensive end. Some decent crosses too. But we missed Tiago's offensive presence.
Sissoko - 6 - Sure, he didn't offer much for passing, but his challenges were mostly on.
Nedved - 5 - Did not do enough to trigger much of anything in attack.
Del Piero - 5.5 - Caught up in legs too often. Could not operate in closely guarded quarters.
Amauri - 4.5 - Perhaps his worst match as a juventino.
Subs:
Tiago - NR - I'm putting him here instead of as a starter because he was a non-factor.
Camoranesi - 5.5 - Should have done so much more than Marchionni, but only managed a little.
Iaquinta - NR - Zero impact.
Coach:
Ranieri - 5 - Lacked creative ideas to crack Inter, but managed to keep the team mathematically in this match for the most part. And it's not like we're oozing with brilliant subs on the bench. But the absence of Giovinco in situations like this is starting to become criminal.