Ivan Perisic is not going through his best period at Inter at the moment but Spalletti’s appreciation for the Croat is difficult to avoid seeing, especially since the Inter coach is having a hard time keeping Perisic out of the starting eleven even against weaker teams.

So far in this season, Inter’s number 44 has managed only 2 goals and 2 assists, far less then expected. Milan-based newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport explains the situation: “This difficult moment for Ivan Perisic is also supported by the numbers – Compared to last season’s first eleven games, the Croat is only better this year in passes made (63 against 54 in the 2017/2018 season), something that is thanks to Inter and how they have changed their way of playing together with Marcelo Brozovic finally finding his true role as a regista. But the rest of his number are in red compared to last season, starting with numbers of goals scored. Perisic has not scored in the league for two months (September 1st in the 3-0 win against Bologna away) and his count has stopped at 2 goals compared to the 4 goals he scored last season in the first 11 rounds of the Serie A.

“In addition to that he has played less (779 minutes against 990), is behind in number of assists (2 against 5), shots on goal (8 against 12), total shots (31 against 37), chances created (19 vs 27) and finally in successful dribbles (8 vs 11). Luciano Spalletti still has faith in Perisic and tries to help him in every possible way – one being changing the system to a 4-3-3 that allows the Croat to spend more time closer to the opponent’s goal.”