Twelve Nerazzurri played over 2,000 minutes. Under accusation there is also the preparation. In April we change: more rotations are needed
What an effort, what a great effort Inter are making. What a great effort that the same ones always have, it is fair to say. Because the numbers confirm the sensations that the pitch has given in the last few outings. Inter are tired and it is the worst possible alarm bell, before a month with nine games scheduled. The team is on its feet, but the definition could be more correct. Because rotations are limited, here’s the detail: Simone Inzaghi brought 12 players over 2,000 minutes played in the season, adding up his league and cup appearances. No other big player in our league has done the same: Roma have 10 players above that quota, Napoli Juventus and Lazio 9, Milan 8. And the details of the matches played are similar for all: Inter took the field 38 times , Juventus Lazio and Rome 39, Milan 37, Naples 36.
Micky for everyone
—
It is the starting point, this detail, which explains so much. The most employed was Lautaro, the only one who played more than 3,000 minutes. And in fact the Argentine ended the last tour de force with his tongue out. The scarce rotations are under the magnifying glass, even more so for a squad that the club still considers the best in Serie A, in terms of quality and depth. How is it possible that, in the face of such a large roster, much larger than Rome and Lazio, just to be clear, Inter always squeezes the same players, leaving others behind? The case of Mkhitaryan is emblematic, who ended up on the bench against Juventus after 19 consecutive games as a starter, an enormous number, exactly half of those played by Inter since the beginning of the season. The risk, which Inzaghi wants and must avoid, is arriving at the decisive moment of the season with shortness of breath. In this sense, April is the crossroads: there is no turning back, what is done is in the records. The point is to move forward. Turnover now becomes necessary. The technician will have to draw on it in each department. Also because in this phase injuries will inevitably multiply – due to excessive wear – and disqualifications. Three examples of who will see much more of the field from here on out? In defense De Vrij, in midfield Asllani, inevitably forward Lukaku, who in truth has the opposite problem, that of always having to play to pick up the pace.
Like a year ago
—
Athletic preparation is also under accusation: Inter fail to be brilliant physically, as well as mentally, when there are close matches. And the slowdown in results occurred in the same period of last season: between February and March 2022 Inter won only one game out of seven effectively throwing away the Scudetto, in 2023 we are four out of nine missteps (0-0 of Oporto must obviously be taken into account the positive results) and the Champions League qualification has become all to be conquered. Accident prevention work will be decisive from now on. And also understand well how to behave with players recovering from various problems. Skriniar is the extreme case: the back problem is delicate, we only work for the first leg against Benfica, the idea is to put him on track a few days before that match, i.e. on 7 April against Salernitana. Having said that Barella does not worry and that Dzeko also played with Bosnia last night (entered the field in the second half), the most delicate choice will concern the use of the other three stops in the pits, namely Bastoni Dimarco and Gosens. All are expected to return in the middle of the week: Inzaghi must understand whether to launch them from the first minute or stall with one eye also on the semi-final against Juventus. You can no longer go wrong: at stake is the difference between a successful season and a bad one. And we will need all of Inter. Even those who have played less so far.
March 27, 2023 (change March 27, 2023 | 09:05)
© REPRODUCTION RESERVED
