Inter coach Simone Inzaghi can point to legitimate excuses and explanations for why the team have not lived up to expectation this season, but must also shoulder his share of the blame.
This is the view in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Corriere della Sera, via FCInterNews, who argue that the coach can hardly be blamed for the team’s difficulties off the pitch that have spilled on to it, but that his tactical decisions and lack of versatility have no excuse.
Inzaghi has had more ups and downs in his second season as Inter coach than he had in his first.
As the Corriere notes, there are certainly reasons behind the scene for this, including the drama of Milan Skriniar’s ultimate decision not to extend his contract with the Nerazzurri.
Inzaghi has also had to deal with the fact that Romelu Lukaku has been lack fitness and form for the entire season, when the Belgian had been widely expected to be a player to add a new dimension to the team’s attack.
However, the Corriere della Sera argues, Inzaghi’s inflexible devotion to a 3-5-2 formation has hurt the team, and the lack of a Plan B has ultimately been as important to the team’s inconsistency as any of the excuses from off the pitch.
The coach, in the view of the newspaper, has proven his quality in flashes, but has yet to demonstrate a certain completeness in his role.