joao mario

Inter lack a role in front of the defense, the man who has to “replace” the coach on the field. Medel is not good enough, he is too limited technically. Joao Mario, who from his technique does not have a mind of a holding midfielder in which he sacrifices by playing “beautifully” than smarter.

Medel and Joao Mario – All coaches who have gone from Milan in recent years (Mazzarri, Mancini and now De Boer) have always started Medel when it was possible, mainly because the Chilean understands his role. Desire to do and selflessness – this, no one can deny Medel, but that in recent years the Nerazzurri have never really been able to offer protection to the defense.

Medel isn’t a Gattuso kind of player, for instance: He has great ability to put pressure on the opponents, but does not have the football intelligence to read in advance and resolve problems before they are made. De Boer has transformed Joao Mario to a holding midfielder, in front of the defense. All experts of the game have been crying “finally” we are seeing a technical player (Joao Mario) rather than physical player (Medel) in that position. Against Torino, Joao Mario was a nice discovery, showing capability to distribute the ball with confidence and always giving support for defenders. Inter’s new prospect failed to reach the fan’s expectations after a disappointing performance against Genoa, and the reality hit. Joao Mario’s performance was rated 4.5 which gives that feeling: “Maybe Medel was better.”

Against Sampdoria, the Portuguese seemed less serious, because it is not easy to learn now to play a new role; Also it is more difficult when he is a victim of pressure, unlike the midfielders of Sampdoria. What is worrying is the attitude of Joao Mario’s body: too passive, no determination to retrieve the ball, stopping instead of chasing the opponent. It seemed that the number 6 is not yet conscious of the tasks that the role requires, a role fact of great intelligence, which should lead to a launch in less effect and a ball intercepted more. In short, the Joao Mario project can operate, but you have to change the way the former Sporting Lisbon midfielder approaches the game. Not just small details.

The Solution – To improve the technical Medel, at age 29, would become a very difficult task. It is much easier to teach a new role to Joao Mario, but it will not be an easy task to drill him to that position. Joao Mario has age on his side, but he has to put a lot of effort and must also be adequately helped by those around him. Andrea Pirlo, who over a decade ago did the same route, passing from the edge to the middle, he did it in Brescia and with a great master like Mazzone. Joao Mario joined Inter as a savior of his country with a price tag that says 45 million Euro. A pressure wire in that threatens to blow up the whole thing.

Inter need a player like Cambiasso or Busquets, someone who can make the simple play when needed, and ability to read the game. This player can be a real assistant coach on the field. Stefano Pioli, first in Bologna and Lazio then, has always had a player with these characteristics in his midfield. In the first case, the keys were entrusted to Diego Perez, in the second case it was to Lucas Biglia. Even before arriving at Parma, the captain of Lazio was an object of desire to Inter, who have always clashed with a high price. A player like Lucas Biglia would be a unique example in the current Inter squad, given that the Argentine is capable of leadership in the midfield. More simply, Biglia blends the characteristics of both Medel and Joao Mario and would be able, at once, to solve a tactical problem not just with the advantage of having a coach who knows him very well and know what can ask him: Even if the Argentine and Inter roads do not encounter by return, there would still be this hole in the midfield department that Pioli, as well as those who preceded him, gladly fill with a suitable profile to take this responsibility. The alternative is to make a virtue of necessity with Medel and Joao Mario.