Juventus head coach Max Allegri is wary of the importance of Marcelo Brozovic to Inter’s style of play and will set up his team to try and negate the midfielder.
This according to today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, who report that the Biancoenri boss is focusing his tactical preparations around keeping the 29-year-old from controlling the game.
Brozovic missed out on Inter’s two matches before the international break, 1-1 draws against Torino and Fiorentina, and his absence underlined how vital his influence is to the Nerazzurri’s approach.
The Croat has been working towards full fitness during the break and will be back in the team to face Juventus, good news for Inter but not so much for the Bianconeri.
In the reverse fixture in October Allegri deployed Dejan Kulusevski to man-mark Brozovic, but with the Swede having left on loan to Tottenham Hotspur in January he will have to come up with a different plan.
Federico Bernardeschi could be used in the man-marking role if he is fit after a groin issue, whilst Manuel Locatelli and Danilo are two others who could be asked to focus their attention on Brozovic.
In any event, the former AC Milan and Cagliari coach’s focus will doubtless be on the midfield battle and in particular on keeping Brozovic attended to and without many options to dictate the tempo.
The Gazzetta also highlight the flanks as an area where Allegri could devote some attention, suggesting that if the coach has his team aggressively push Ivan Perisic and Denzel Dumfries back it could deprive Inter of important wide outlets.
