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The Nerazzurri: Champions already?
Inter were guaranteed to finish the first half of the season in the lead. However, the gap between them sitting comfortably at the top of the league and second place Roma at the half way stage is so vast that they might as well be crowned Campioni 2007/08.
Il Derby della Madonnina gave cross town rivals AC Milan the chance to slow down the speeding Inter juggernaut, and although many thought this would happen when Andrea Pirlo's free kick silenced San Siro, their Black and Blue cousins showed the kind of championship winning form that has scudetto winners written all over it.
Inter played the type of football that not even the World and European champions had an answer to, and although Milan have a World Player of the Year on their books, Inter have a potential candidate for next year's award in the sensational Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Sensational Swede Superstar
Ibrahimovic is one of the reasons behind Inter's invincible form. Since signing for the club in 2006 for almost £18m, the sensational swede has scored an impressive 24 goals in 41 appearances for Roberto Mancini's men.
The Swede has found the right home at Inter. Under Fabio Capello at Juventus, Ibrahimovic was restricted to Don Capello's lacklustre football. At his new club he has a free role where he can play to his strengths and full potential, delighting the crowd in the process.
Unpredictable, spectacular and a scorer of great goals, he is the man to fire Inter towards greatness this season just like Marco Van Basten with Milan all those years ago.
This season the prolific hit- man is Inter's top scorer with 7 in the league and 5 in Europe and if he keeps it up then the Nerazzurri have every chance of lifting the Champions League as well as the “Guranteed Scudetto.â€
After, he can go on to prove President Massimo Moratti was right when he said “Ibrahimovic should have won the Ballon d'Or and the World Player of the year award.â€
Adriano,Good Old Riddance!
The Departure of Adriano from Inter is another reason for the Nerazzurri's continued success. Everyone around the world thought Roberto Mancini had lost it when he selected his Champions League squad and left out L'imperatore.
The reality is, however, that Inter's coach made the best decision and the right one at that. Adriano was just one big flop at Inter. Fair enough he scored some good goals but he was never going to propel them to success. He was never going to be a good leader, his fitness would always have been suspect, his attitude always unquestionable.
The Brazilian was a disruptive influence in the San Siro changing rooms; he was hell bent on partying and having a good time rather than focusing on his job at Inter. Ultimately this erratic behaviour led to him losing his job and credibility in the world of Calcio. There is no doubting that Inter are better off with him this season.
For Adriano, on the other hand, nothing has changed, as he was spotted partying in Brazil a few days ago. Good riddance.
Third Scudetto in a Row?
The world of Calcio was divided at the start of the season on who would win the scudetto, many believed it would be Milan's year, others thought Roma, die hard Juventus fans still believe the Tri Colore will head to Turin.
However there was only ever going to be one real contender. Inter have the right set up to go on and win their third scudetto in a row.
They are still unbeaten in Serie A and have scored 37 in 17 games and conceded nine. They have won their last six games without players such as Patrick Vieira and Luis Figo. Mancini has one of the greatest squads at his disposal.
They know how to play fantastic keep ball football and with players such as Julio Cruz, Hernan Crespo, David Suazo and Ibrahimovic they have been terrorising defences both on the domestic front and in Europe.
A mix of Arsenal-esque passing, solid defending and so clinical and ruthless in front of goal, it would be the biggest shock in world football if Inter fail to win anything this season.
UEFA Champions League
Is it finally Inter's year after almost 43 years in the wilderness? The Nerazzurri should be hot favourites to be in with a shout of winning the world's greatest club competition.
After a slow start Mancini's men showed the rest of Europe the reasons why they should be feared in the Champions League.
Falling 2-0 down to CSKA Moscow in the group stage, Inter fought back and put their Russian opponents to the sword in spectacular fashion and in the process sent out a message to the rest of Europe's giants.
They qualified for the next stage a round early and if they continue playing as they are, then they could go on to win it and give Moratti the much needed dividends which a Champions League win pays, it would be a welcome gift considering all the millions the president has poured into the Inter institution.
And anyone associated with the club will tell you that it's the Champions League they really want.
