Italian journalist Mario Sconcerti believes that Inter have a hard time coping without Marcelo Brozovic partly because the Croat’s contributions cannot be replicated by teammate Nicolo Barella.
Writing in his column in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Corriere della Sera, Sconcerti suggested that perhaps Barella will have the qualities to play as a regista later on in his career, but right now cannot back up Brozovic.
The last time Inter were without Brozovic, through suspension against Sassuolo, they tried to play with Barella in the 29-year-old’s customary role, and the result was a disjointed performance and a 2-0 loss.
The Croat was out against Torino yesterday through a muscle injury, and Simone Inzaghi turned to Matias Vecino in the role, but the effect was little better as the Nerazzurri once again looked well off their best in the first half.
Sconcerti believes that the fact that, for all his quality, Barella cannot really contribute in the same way that Brozovic can, presents the Nerazzurri with a unique problem tactically.
“The table changes because Inter have stumbled,” he writes, “they are once again stumbling in the dark. The absence of Brozovic has been magnified because it’s befallen an empty team, Inzaghi has tried to make Barella a regista, which will be his role in ten years but not now.”
