Antonio Conte pulled off a tactical masterclass by hitting Simone Inzaghi on the counterattack during Inter’s win over Lazio, according to an Italian media report.
As per Corriere dello Sport’s print edition, Conte’s decision to sit back and play on the break rather than press high paid dividends as the Nerazzurri won the match 3-1, a result which allowed them to go top of Serie A for the first time this season.
Inzaghi was criticised for picking Patric ahead of January signing Mateo Musacchio in his starting XI, as it set Lazio up to be punished by Conte’s preferred strategy.
“That was the key to this match because it was fatal for Lazio to open up and control possession,” the Rome-based publication argued.
“You don’t need 65% of the ball and 30 crosses if you’re playing with two counter-attackers like Ciro Immobile and Joaquin Correa against the likes of Milan Skriniar, Stefan de Vrij and Alessandro Bastoni.”
Conte ensured Lazio’s possession and territorial superiority was ‘sterile’, sitting deep without pressure on goalkeeper Pepe Reina and using a back five, with Bastoni moving forward to marshal Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
Inter denied Immobile and Correa space in behind their defence by creating ‘traffic’ around them, while Luis Alberto was unable to link play in midfield under constant pressure from Nicolo Barella.
Marcelo Brozovic was also praised for his defensive work at San Siro, along with Ivan Perisic on the left wing.
