Those who make mistakes pay the price; Inter-Southampton could be under-fire coach Frank de Boer’s last stand. If the nerazzurri lose tonight, then progression in this season’s Europa League is all but over and the Dutchman’s future thrown into even more doubt. La Gazzetta dello Sport writes this morning that even if his side are beaten at the San Siro this evening, the club would not sack him immediately and would need time to consider his successor.
 

An ideal scenario would be to hand the reigns over to an interim coach and continue the search for what they would perceive as the ideal replacement. The man who tops the list is undoubtedly Diego Simeone but unlikely at the moment, considering his current position with Atletico Madrid. A more likely appointment would be one between former Inter player and ex Verona coach Andrea Mandorlini and Stefano Pioli, the most high-profile Italian coach currently out of work. Mandorlini is still under contract to his former employer and has already received lucrative offers from China. Another option could be a joint appointment of Leonardo and Fabio Capello, with a view to the former moving into a director role next summer. Francesco Guidolin is also available having recently been dismissed by Swansea City, it’s unlikely however, that he would only accept a contract until the end of the season. Finally there is Rudi Garcia; the former Roma boss still lives in the capital and has recently rejected a return to France with Marseille. Having only appointed de Boer 13 days before the start of the new season, it’s believed the board want to give him every chance to turn things around.

Steve Mitchell @barafundler