Inter Milan: 5 Things the Team Must Do to Compete in Italy Next Season

The 2011-12 season was an unabashed flop for Inter Milan. The team was expected to compete with the likes of AC Milan and Juventus, but instead found themselves significantly behind in the standings all season.

Juventus and AC Milan finished with goal differentials indicative of their talent levels (plus-48 and plus-41, respectively). Inter, however, finished with an embarrassing plus-three goal differential. They conceded 55 goals on the season, worse than every other team who finished in the top 16 spots in the standings.

There's obviously work to be done, but each season brings new hope, and there are ways for Inter to improve before the next campaign. A fresh start, and a few changes could be all they need to find themselves back on top.

Keep Wesley Sneijder

When a talented team disappoints, the immediate inclination is usually to start looking for outside help. However, in reality, the first thing they must do is establish continuity.

The best—and most important—way to establish continuity is by taking care of your own.

Wesley Sneijder has been a force at Inter for years, but in the wake of a disappointing 2011-12 campaign, he's been linked with a number of other clubs in Europe.

If this club loses their most talented player, they can all but kiss a Serie A title goodbye next year.

Get Rid of Julio Cesar

Inter made a strong move to begin the offseason, signing 27-year-old keeper Samir Handanovic from Udinese.

Udinese gave up nearly 20 fewer goals than Inter last season, despite boasting a similar (if not worse) back line.

While Handanovic is expected to start either way, the presence of an established—albeit declining—keeper behind him won't be good for his progress. He needs to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that he's the man at Inter. Otherwise, he may not play his best in 2012-13.

And, after last season's debacle, Inter needs him to be at his best.

Sign Yann M'Villa

Yann M'Vila is one of the biggest names on the transfer market, and one of the top young prospects in all of football. He would be a welcome addition to almost any top club. However, Inter in particular could be in need of his services.

M'Vila is a strong, confident tackler who excels in defensive midfield. In the defensive-oriented Italian league, the importance of the holding midfielder becomes magnified.

Again, Inter allowed 55 goals last season, more than any Serie A team who finished in the top 16. Italians like to attack through the midfield, and M'Vila would be a vital cog in breaking up those attacks.

Replace Maicon at Right-Back

Maicon has patrolled the right-back position at Inter since 2006, but he appears destined to sign with Chelsea.

The Blues are in need of a new full-back, and had a far less tumultuous 2011-12 campaign than Inter.

Inter Milan, like most top Italian clubs, have money to spend. They need to allocate those resources in defense. The glamour positions are nice to talk about (no, signing Mario Balotelli would not be a good idea), but it's the blue collar positions that win championships.

Losing Maicon leaves a gaping hole in defense, and plugging that hole needs to be a top priority.

Grow Up

Petty arguments with referees and other teams only serve as distractions, and prove to the world that the squad is not entirely focused on the proper task at hand.

When things start going wrong, it's easy for the train to derail entirely from the track. A locker room needs stoic, rational leaders who can reel the team back in instead of letting extraneous issues snowball.

Winning Serie A is no small feat, with teams like Juventus and AC Milan standing in the way. If you aren't 100-percent committed to the task at hand, and ready to go about your business like professionals, you don't stand a chance.