After another inconsistent and frustrating campaign at San Siro, Goal selects the three players who have done their utmost to keep the Nerazzurri's European hopes alive
It's been another season of upheaval, inconsistency and, ultimately, huge frustration for Inter. Having sacked Walter Mazzarri in November, Roberto Mancini was tasked with turning around their stuttering start to the campaign and delivering a top-three finish - or a Europa League return, at the very least. With just two games to go, both now look beyond their reach.
With changes in line-up and system on almost a weekly basis, Inter stars have faced a real challenge to put together consistent quality performances in 2014-15 - but these three below have done more than any others to drag the Nerazzurri kicking and screaming back towards the summit of Italian football.
A costly howler against Juventus was an unfortunate blot on another highly impressive season from Samir Handanovic. Despite consistent changes in personnel in the Inter back four - especially since Mancini took charge in November - the Slovenian has remained a strong presence between the posts.
Only three goalkeepers in Serie A better his total of 11 clean sheets - and they include Gianluigi Buffon and Morgan De Sanctis - and Handanovic has managed a shot-to-save ratio of better than 67 per cent. He has also maintained his remarkable penalty save record, stopping four in the league this term - and another in Europe - to close in on the recor
d of 24 held by Gianluca Pagliuca.
The 30-year-old is expected to leave San Siro this summer in search of Champions League football. There can be no doubt that Inter face an arduous task in finding a replacement.
A brief dip in form and a knee concern aside, Mateo Kovacic has further established himself as one of Europe's best young midfielders this season. While a return of five goals and two assists in Serie A in 33 games is modest, the 21-year-old has become pivotal when it comes to dictating Inter's play from the centre and has thrived in recent weeks in a deeper role assigned to him by Mancini. He has also offered moments of rare magic at San Siro this term, most notably his stunning volley against Lazio.
Kovacic continues to be linked with a summer exit: Liverpool have been rumoured admirers for some time and Barcelona are known to be monitoring the player. Given his continued development in 2015, Inter would be mad to allow him to leave just as their rebuilding process reaches a crucial juncture.
For many, unquestionably Inter's star performer this season. Another heavily linked with a summer transfer, Mauro Icardi has finally begun to live up to his potential in 2014-15. Nineteen goals and three assists from 31 starts in the league have carried Inter during their stop-start scrap for the European places and his all-round displays at the focal point of attack have been lively enough to get the sparse San Siro crowd on their feet.
Still in the running for the Capocannoniere prize - only Carlos Tevez has scored more in the league - the tempestuous Argentine has two more games to attempt to drag Inter into the top six and either force them to table a greater contract offer or attract big-name suitors from abroad. One way or another, he deserves to be playing in the Champions League or Europa League next term.
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