Shaky defense: Sommer looks flat, Akanji loses focus. Inter, so many gaps

Inter have begun this new era with a worrying trend that no one at Appiano Gentile can ignore: two goals conceded per game on average.

That kind of fragility at the back is not sustainable for a side that aspires to compete for the Scudetto and to make a deep run in Europe. Carrying such a heavy burden is like running a marathon with weights strapped to the shoulders it slows you down, wears you out, and in the end prevents you from reaching the finish line where you want to be. For a club with Inter’s history and ambitions, this is not where they should find themselves.

The problem is structural, and it has been simmering for some time. Cristian Chivu, stepping in to lead the team, has inherited a defense riddled with doubts. And the truth is that these cracks didn’t suddenly appear during the four-goal humiliation at the Stadium, a venue that has long been a nightmare for Nerazzurri supporters. The warning signs were already flashing earlier, such as in the miserable evening at San Siro against Udinese, where Yann Sommer was beaten twice despite Inter dominating possession.

The numbers paint an even bleaker picture. Since that infamous Bayern clash, Inter have leaked 30 goals in 18 matches, averaging 1.67 goals conceded per game. Compare that to the first part of last season, up until the same Bayern encounter: just 38 goals conceded across 48 games, an average of 0.79. In other words, the defensive solidity that was once the foundation of Inter’s rise under Simone Inzaghi has completely evaporated.

The contrast could not be starker. The clean sheet against Torino, the only one so far this season, already feels like a distant memory more like a summer illusion than a genuine turning point. What followed was a flood of defensive errors and cheap goals given away. And with the Champions League looming unpredictable as always, even if Ajax are not the most fearsome opponent on paper the anxiety among fans and pundits is growing. Everyone knows that unless the back line improves dramatically, Inter’s ambitions will have to be redrawn.

The personnel choices have only deepened the doubts. Manuel Akanji, brought in to provide freshness and solidity, has failed to convince. His defending has been loose, casual, at times reminiscent of Bisseck’s struggles. Instead of patching holes, he seems to have opened new ones. Behind him, Sommer endured his darkest night since arriving in Milan. At 36, the Swiss veteran suddenly looks a shadow of the keeper who just months ago produced the save of the year against Lamine Yamal the one that denied the Spanish prodigy a Ballon d’Or moment and earned Sommer a place at the Yashin Trophy ceremony. That version of Sommer looked sharp, confident, unbeatable. The one on display at the Stadium was hesitant, slow to dive, unconvincing with the ball at his feet, and guilty of butterfingered handling that gifted goals to the opposition.

The rest of the defense hardly fared better. Francesco Acerbi, 37, remains a starter in all three games, a testament to his experience but also a reminder of the lack of renewal in this department. Stefan de Vrij, at 33, is another pillar of the old guard. The supposed rejuvenation of the squad has bypassed the back line altogether. These are the same names that, during the collapse at the end of last season, saw Inter’s goals-against tally spiral out of control across all competitions.

And then there is the supporting cast. Benjamin Pavard has left for Marseille, where he celebrated with a debut goal, while his replacement Akanji was miles away from Kelly on the opener at the Stadium. The midfielders failed to provide adequate cover either: Hakan Calhanoglu was late in closing down Yildiz, and Piotr Zielinski was caught in no man’s land as Lilian Thuram’s youngest son rose to score with a header. This was not just a defensive unit failing; it was a collective collapse.

After the game, only Alessandro Bastoni tried to salvage some perspective. “When you concede four goals, the assessments can only be negative,” he admitted. “It’s tough to talk about performance, but in certain moments we were a bit unlucky. We could have done better, but on the pitch we felt superior. It’s better to take heavy defeats at the beginning of the season because the road is still long. Now we have to understand what went wrong.” His words tried to balance responsibility with optimism, but the message was clear: the defensive frailties must be fixed, and quickly.

Bastoni also offered a crucial clarification: “There are no after-effects from Munich. We conceded four goals from four shots. We played a great game overall, but we lacked focus in the last 10 minutes and the ruthlessness that prevents you from conceding.” That remark hit at an old, familiar problem for Inter their tendency to crumble late in games. Supporters will not have forgotten how points, goals, and even titles have slipped away in the dying moments. Many recalled, with a shiver, the Scudetto lost at San Siro against Lazio in stoppage time.

The statistics provide an eerie echo of the past. The last time Inter conceded at least six goals in their first three Serie A games, stadiums were empty due to the pandemic. That was in the 2020–21 season. On that occasion, Antonio Conte swiftly identified the flaws and reorganized the team, eventually leading them to the Scudetto. For Chivu, there is a clear lesson close at hand: diagnose the weaknesses early, fix them ruthlessly, and restore discipline.

The big question now is whether this Inter side has the capacity to turn things around. The attack remains potent, with Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram capable of scoring against anyone. The midfield is packed with talent and creativity. But none of that will matter if the defensive unit continues to leak goals at this alarming rate.

The Nerazzurri’s ambitions domestic and European will stand or fall on their ability to rediscover stability at the back. Without it, the dream of competing with Juventus, Milan, and Napoli at the top of Serie A will remain out of reach, and the Champions League will once again be a stage where Inter collapse under pressure.

For Chivu and his players, the message is as clear as it is urgent: the time for excuses is over. Mistakes must be corrected, organization restored, and defensive pride rediscovered. Otherwise, what began as a season of promise could turn into a nightmare all too familiar to Inter fans.