Inter fans will never get to enjoy Christian Eriksen at his best if Antonio Conte doesn’t change his system, according to the Nerazzurri’s former defender Francesco Colonnese.
Eriksen started alongside Marcelo Brozovic for last night’s Coppa Italia semi-final second leg at Juventus but failed to make an impact on the match.
Conte has been trying the 28-year-old in a deeper play-maker role recently but used him as a ‘mezzala’ in his 3-5-2 formation at the Allianz Stadium.
“In my opinion Eriksen has to play further forwards, Conte is trying to play him in a role that is not his own,” Colonnese explained while speaking to Italian journalist Nicolo Schira on Twitch after the goalless draw in Turin.
“His career has been spent in the final third, as an attacking midfielder behind the striker or winger in a front three.
“In the match against Juventus he did not play an exciting game, but it is difficult to play there in the middle of all that traffic, in a position for which he does not have the right physicality and intensity.
“Those characteristics are fundamental for Conte’s style of play and for that 3-5-2 system.
“With this system, we will never see the real Eriksen.”
Colonnese then went on to reflect on Inter’s elimination from the cup, with Juventus securing a 2-1 aggregate victory last night despite offering little by way of attacking threat across the two legs.
“Inter tried to play their game and attacked in the two matches while Juventus sat back,” he said.
“They scored in the first leg from two Nerazzurri mistakes and just played on the counter in this game.
“Inter had chances in the first half and the game could have gone in another direction, but then the game became difficult and Juventus had some chances in the second half.
“I must say that I saw a very different Juventus than the one in the match between the sides in the league.
“Juventus were much less technical but more competitive, so congratulations must go to Andrea Pirlo who has matured a lot and built a team which is more pragmatic and balanced, even if they do not play great football.”
Colonnese proceeded to sing the praises of Inter number one Samir Handanovic, who was rated as the Nerazzurri’s best player in this morning’s papers.
“Handanovic is a great goalkeeper, who has played at high levels,” Colonnese argued.
“Goalkeepers can make mistakes but his mistakes are always over-emphasised, he is criticised too often but he was the one of the best players on the pitch against Juve.
“He can make mistakes, just like a defender or a midfielder can.
“As he gets older, he has lost something, but he is still one of the best European goalkeepers and he often shows it on the pitch.”
Colonnese then went on to discuss the performance of Romelu Lukaku, who was not his usual dominant self in the match at the Allianz Stadium.
“It’s not easy to play well when you come up against a defender like Matthijs de Ligt, one of the best in Europe.
“He and Merih Demiral played a great game and cancelled the Belgian out.
“He didn’t play well against the two defenders who were better as they bothered him physically and in the air.
“Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez are one of the best attacking partnerships in Serie A, but Juventus’ defence was very solid and neutralised them.”
The former Napoli player, who played for Inter between 1997 and 2000, also touched upon Milan Skriniar’s display.
“When I heard they wanted to sell him, I was surprised,” Colonnese admitted.
“Skriniar has everything: he’s fast, a serious guy, physically solid, young and mentally strong.
“He was treated like a bad player but instead he is one of Inter’s best players.
“They just had to give him confidence, he should not be called into question.
“If he played in a back four he would be even stronger but he has improved a lot playing in a back three.”
Inter return to league action on Sunday when Conte’s side welcome Lazio to San Siro.