Inter’s hopes of winning Sunday’s Milan derby are reliant upon their ‘spine’ of three key players, according to an Italian media report today.
Gazzetta dello Sport‘s online edition argued Stefan de Vrij, Marcelo Brozovic and Romelu Lukaku were pivotal to Antonio Conte’s side and backed up their assertion with some fairly conclusive numbers.
Conte almost always uses them when available, with the trio playing in 30 (De Vrij), 29 (Brozovic) and 28 (Lukaku) of Inter’s 32 games respectively in all competitions this season.
“They are three pillars who know how to deliver in the Derby della Madonnina,” Francesco Sessa reported, reminding readers that all three scored in last season’s dramatic 4-2 win over AC Milan in February 2020.
“De Vrij commands Inter’s back three with authority, Brozovic is a jack of all trades in midfield and Lukaku is the pivot around which everything moves when they go forward.
“Then there’s everyone else as well, but a lot of Inter’s fortunes pass through these three players.”
De Vrij is one of the best Inter defenders when it comes to successful passes, with the report highlighting how he has completed 92.8%, while Brozovic is one of the best Nerazzurri midfielders with 89.1%.
Lukaku, meanwhile, occupies opposition defenders, plays with his back to goal and prepares to leave his markers in his wake.
De Vrij manages the game, Brozovic runs and sends his teammates through on goal while Lukaku scores and carries the team, with his 16 goals having him joint top of the Serie A scoring charts alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus.
In conclusion, the report added that Conte was enjoying having a strong and stable backbone to his team and would be relying on this for the Serie A title run-in.
