Christian Eriksen does have competition to start Sunday’s Milan derby but it isn’t Arturo Vidal, as per a report in the Italian media today.
Neither Eriksen nor Vidal took part in Inter’s training match against Serie D outfit Vis Nova Giussano yesterday, but this was for different reasons.
Gazzetta dello Sport’s print edition explained that Eriksen did not play in the match as he had featured heavily against Lazio and therefore trained apart, while Vidal did not participate as he was simply not ready physically.
The Dane’s main rival for a place in Antonio Conte’s XI against AC Milan is in fact Roberto Gagliardini, albeit ‘logic’ suggests Eriksen will keep his place in the team.
Matias Vecino has only come back recently from a long-term injury while Stefano Sensi suffered yet another setback on Thursday, although the Milan-based paper said his problem didn’t seem anything serious.
Eriksen is therefore the standout option to make his first start in the Derby della Madonnina this weekend, which would reportedly prove his career at Inter has changed direction once and for all.
Gazzetta explained that the 29-year-old was precious as he knew how to help Inter play out from the back as Conte wanted, giving the Nerazzurri a second option after Marcelo Brozovic.
They argued that, provided the pair did not end up stepping on one another’s toes, Conte playing both Eriksen and Brozovic could be a very interesting option.
