THE SCENARIO: It is July 2016. Inter Milan have appointed Italian coach Dino Livorno to replace Roberto Mancini following last season’s disappointing fourth placed finish. The poor league campaign means the club misses out on Champions League football for a fifth consecutive season. With Juventus having won the last five Serie A titles and Roma and Napoli established as their main competitors, can Livorno reinvigorate the Nerazzurri and get them back into the elite of Italian football or will they fall even further behind?

Previous episodes: Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3

Prefer a different European league? Read our other series here: England – Premier League, France – Ligue 1, Germany – Bundesliga, Italy – Serie A, Spain – La Liga

1 October 2016

October begins with a tough trip to the capital to play Roma before easier league matches against Cagliari, Atalanta, Torino, and Sampdoria. There’s also a Europa League match at home to Southampton that could prove decisive in determining who finishes first in our group.

2 October 2016

Roma vs Inter Milan

With a five point gap between ourselves and Roma, this match has large implications for their title hopes even at this early stage in the season. Lose and they fall eight points behind, but a win will bring them just two points behind us.

A simple tap-in by Joao Mario in the 14th minute gave us a lead that we held onto at half-time, but what happened in the second half was completely unexpected. Icardi made it 2-0 with a shot that Wojciech Szczesny should have saved, before Banega finished off a quick counter attack with a shot off the post. Icardi then grabbed another with a precise effort into the top corner, and completed his hat-trick shortly after that from the spot. You’d think that was enough, but the Argentine wasn’t finished and got his fourth goal in the 76th minute. That’s 6-0 in case you lost count. There’s a saying that goes “Rome wasn’t built in a day”, but today it was torn down in 90 minutes.

15 October 2016

Inter Milan vs Cagliari

After the euphoria of thrashing Roma on their own ground, it’s important that we consolidate that result with another win against struggling Cagliari. I’m not expecting another 6-0, but we shouldn’t underestimate our opponents and I suspect this will be a much closer game. There’s no reason to change a winning line-up, so it’s the same XI as before.

Like I predicted, this game was closer than everyone else thought. We had plenty of chances, but Rafael in the Cagliari goal had the game of his life and kept everything out. The breakthrough finally arrived with less than 20 minutes to go, as Icardi was felled in the box. The captain dusted himself off to blast home from the spot, and that was enough for victory.

20 October 2016

Inter Milan vs Southampton

With things going quite well domestically, we’re hoping to continue our winning run in Europe. Southampton are our toughest group stage opponents, and they’ve done quite well in the Premier League since winning promotion a few seasons ago. I select a changed team with only Miranda and Belhanda remaining from the XI that started against Cagliari.

Zzzzzz… Not one for the neutrals, this. Both sides had a few decent chances that were saved comfortably by the keepers, but it always looked like ending in a stalemate. The result leaves both teams level on points and goal difference but we’re ahead on goals scored. Midtjylland and Stromsgodset are not mathematically out of contention yet, but it would be a huge surprise if either of them qualifies for the knockout stages.

23 October 2016

Atalanta vs Inter Milan

Back to Serie A action now, and a trip to Atalanta. The midweek draw against Southampton was the first time we haven’t won this season, so we’re hoping to get back on track. The usual suspects come back into the team, with only Kondogbia and Belhanda missing out. The former is rested, while the latter is among the subs.

Early chances go begging as Perisic fires wide before Candreva and Icardi have efforts saved by Etrit Berisha. Atalanta survive the first half and keep it scoreless, before taking a shock lead early in the second half. A reckless tackle by Murillo results in a penalty that is coolly converted by Alberto Paloschi. Fortunately for us, Banega equalises on the hour mark and Perisic maintains our 100% record in the league with the winner 15 minutes from time. The win gives us a five point lead over Juventus, who have leapfrogged Napoli into second place.

24 October 2016

Some possible bad news as Icardi reveals that he is unsettled and homesick. He left Argentina for Europe nearly 10 years ago and NOW he’s homesick?? I smell bullshit. Or, if this was a video game, some badly written logic (sort it out EA Sports!). Still, he’s my best player and we struggle to score goals without him so I decide to tread carefully.

27 October 2016

Inter Milan vs Torino

Torino are up next in Serie A and that means a reunion between Icardi and Maxi Lopez. For those of you who don’t know their history, I suggest Googling it. I’m not a gossip columnist so I don’t really want to dwell on it here. Lopez thankfully starts on the bench for Torino, so Icardi isn’t at risk of getting the shit kicked out of him right from the start. As for our lineup, Murillo is demoted to the bench for his reckless tackling in recent games. Andreolli takes his place.

Torino’s dangerman Andrea Bellotti almost gives them an early lead but is foiled by Handanovic, before Banega wastes an easy chance at the other hand. We don’t have to wait long to take the lead though, as Icardi’s cutback is finished brilliantly be Perisic in the 13th minute. The Croatian doubles his money later in the first half with a fine header from Belhanda’s cross. Substitute Gabigol drills in a third with ten minutes to go to wrap up our 10th straight win in the league. A fine achievement, but one that is slightly soured by Ansaldi’s needless sending off right at the end.

29 October 2016

Sampdoria vs Inter Milan

Earlier today Icardi came to see me asking to miss today’s game against his former team, Sampdoria. He’s not feeling sharp (apparently) and wants a rest. Because I’m a nice guy (or too weak to stand up to my only source of goals, take your pick) I acquiesce to his request. Gabigol will start in his place, while Sainsbury, Gagliardini, Eder, and Meyer also play.

Gabigol grabs his chance with a 9th minute goal after a delightful through ball by Meyer. So far, so good, and we’re not missing Icardi at all. We spurn chances to increase our lead, but Sampdoria rarely threaten and we look like holding on for a narrow win. That suddenly changes in the 69th minute when Fabio Quagliarella equalises with their first shot on target. Eight minutes later, Lucas Torreira scores with their second shot on target. Stunned, I turn to my bench as I seek to throw on Icardi. Except he’s not on the bench BECAUSE I GAVE HIM THE DAY OFF. F**K! Our first defeat of the season means Juventus have now narrowed the gap to just two points.

Post-match, Icardi thanks me for letting him rest and assures me that this will help him (and us) over the rest of the season. It damn well better, Mauro. It damn well better.

Screenshots and videos taken from FIFA 17 by EA Sports