Inter have experienced an indifferent start to the 2012/13 season.
So far, Andrea Stramaccioni’s side have played nine official games (four in Serie A and five in the Europa League) – winning four, drawing two and losing the other three all at their own backyard.
In the Italian league, Inter have won two and lost two. The Nerazzurri overcame newcomers Pescara (3-0) and Torino (2-0) in their first two trips away from Milan but at home they were beaten by Roma (1-3) and Siena (0-2).
Sunday’s upset to Serse Cosmi’s Siena, currently bottom of the standings, was particularly sour as it was Inter’s first home defeat in nine meetings with the league strugglers.
In Europe, Inter thrashed Hajduk 3-0 in the first leg of the third qualifying round, before going down 0-2 at the San Siro. In the next round, Inter emerged winners against Vaslui in Romania and then drew 2-2 at home in the second leg.
Last week, Inter salvaged a home draw against Rubin Kazan in their opening Group H fixture.
Neftchi and Partizan are the two other sides in this group.
Clearly, something is wrong with Inter as a side aspiring to make a top-three finish in Serie A and a long run in the Europa League, cannot afford to drop points at home, especially to less-quoted sides like Siena.
Perhaps, what is lacking at Inter is consistency.
Stramaccioni, widely considered as an emerging talent, has yet to find the best module for his side.
Against Torino, Inter adopted a containing game with Diego Milito a lone striker aided by a supporting man in Wesley Sneijder.
On Sunday, Stramaccioni opted for a two-man attack with Antonio Cassano in the starting XI alongside Milito and Sneijder sitting just behind the pair.
The biggest surprise was Javier Zanetti’s relegation to the bench.
Although Inter saw more of the ball, particularly in the first hour, they rarely threatened Siena.
In the end, the visitors took their chances well and left the San Siro with precious points in their bags.
Like city neighbours Milan, Inter are in a transitory period.
They have been in decline ever since completing an unprecedented treble at the end of the 2009/10 season.
After that remarkable achievement, Jose Mourinho left and Rafa Benitez, Leonardo, Gianpiero Gasperini and Claudio Ranieri followed on the San Siro hot-seat but with little success.
Now, club supremo Massimo Moratti needs to take things in stages.
The fact that the club has opted for the inexperienced Stramaccioni, 36, and offered him a contract denotes that they have faith in their former youth team trainer.
It would be a big mistake if Moratti were to change his mind and sack Stramaccioni so early in the season.
If so, Inter would have been better off had they parted with Stramaccioni in summer and started the season with a new coach.
Inter effected significant changes to their squad in the close season so the newcomers need time to settle in.
But, at the same time, the clock is ticking fast against Stramaccioni. He has to address the problem and find a remedy to Inter’s weak points before it is too late.
Otherwise, this could be another season to forget for Inter.