GettyImagesInter coach Andrea Stramaccioni has kept within touching distance with Juventus

With just three Serie A games left until the half way point of the season, Inter find themselves sitting in second place just four points behind Juventus. Considering this season is meant to be one of rejuvenation and readjustment for the Nerazzurri, few people would've realistically thought that Inter could be considered title contenders by this point.

True, it may still be too early to make such bold claims for Stramaccioni's young team, but the hard work and commitment put in by both the coach and his squad have so far paid off. Following Inter's hard-fought win against Napoli last weekend, president Massimo Moratti wasn't prepared to get too excited about the Nerazzurri's chances of claiming their 19th Scudetti, preferring instead to keep his feet on the ground for the time being: "We just take each game as it comes. We try to play well and then it's down to what the other teams do."

The Nerazzurri captain, Javier Zanetti on the other hand preferred to make plain his and his team-mates' intentions for the rest of the season, telling the press at a PUPI Foundation charity event: "Our aim is to battle for the Scudetto right down to the wire"

While both opinions are quite different, I believe both are right and will hopefully have a positive effect for Inter. In my opinion, Moratti's comment was given with the aim of not heaping too much pressure onto his young inexperienced coach. We all know Stramaccioni is still in the beginnings of his coaching career, finding his feet and learning his trade in one of the most high pressured jobs in world football.

When Stramaccioni was taken on permanently this summer he was given the target of a top three finish -ensuring Inter qualify for next seasons Champions league, while also rebuilding the new young team. If Moratti now came out saying that he thinks we should be challenging Juventus for the Scudetto it would have a huge negative effect on his coach.

Zanetti's comment however, was intended as a rallying cry for his team-mates. A few words to fire them up in an attempt to get the best possible performances out of the players for the remainder of the season. This is something that Moratti wants too, but coming from the captain it puts no extra pressure on Stramaccioni.

Zanetti's rallying cry will be crucial for Inter's success this season, it is no secret that so far this term the Nerazzurri have performed at their best in games against the biggest teams in the league, while falling to some disappointing defeats by teams that they should be easily beating.

This is purely down to the mentality that the squad have going into these games. It's easy to get fired up for the big matches but against the smaller teams such as Atalanta and Parma complacency seems to have crept into the squad.

Stramaccioni is a good coach, and he has done a wonderful job of building a strong and united team for Inter, but for him to become a great coach and for the team to become one that all opponents fear, he has to take the example of Jose Mourinho's methods.

The key to the success of 'The Special One' is his ability to make his players believe they can do anything and win any game. In Mourinho's own words the players have to play every game as though it's the Champions league final, no matter how small the opponent.

If Stramaccioni can return that mentality to the Nerazzurri, as Mourinho did with the Triplete winning Inter squad, then once again the club will become a major force in Italian, European and world football. The question is, can Stramaccioni achieve this change of mentality in his players? I have to say I believe he can, especially with the help of veteran players like Zanetti, Cambiasso and Samuel, who witnessed the effect Mourinho's philosophy had on the club.

In truth, Stramaccioni and Mourinho aren't very different, both are excellent tacticians with an eye for the details. The only thing the current Inter coach lacks is Mourinho's years of experience. All it will take for Stramaccioni to take the Nerazzurri back to the top is time and a bit of patience.

I have absolute faith that Inter have the right man at the helm to lead them back to glory in the coming seasons, after all, like us Interisti say - We believe in Strama and in Inter!

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