Legendary former Inter striker Sandro Mazzola feels that the best strategy for the Nerazzurri in this evening’s Champions League round of sixteen first leg against Porto would be to start with Edin Dzeko in attack and then bring Romelu Lukaku off the bench.
Speaking to Italian news outlet Mi-Tomorrow, via FCInterNews, the former striker gave the view that Lukaku could be best used as a weapon in the second half, whilst he also suggested that Nerazzurri coach Simone Inzaghi could be playing for his future against Porto.
Whilst there is virtually no doubt whatsoever that Lautaro Martinez will start in attack for this evening, the identity of the striker who will play alongside him from the start is much less clear.
It is also true that, whilst only one of Lukaku or Dzeko can start the match, the question of how each would respectively impact the match from the bench would also be factored in.
“It’s a good battle between them to start, but I would say that due to the particular characteristics of Lukaku, I’d leave him out of the starting eleven and then bring him on for the final half-hour,” Mazzola said.
“As the match gets closer to the decisive stages, he could be the player who offers something different, a bit of invention that would solve the match for the team.”
“It’s better to start with Dzeko and Lautaro in that sense.”
Asked if he thinks that the match could affect the future of Inzaghi as Inter coach, Mazzola replied that “If he were to reach the quarterfinals of the Champions League it would be hard to ignore, and conversely if they go out it would get tough for him.”
“And then, if they were to go out, a lot would depend on how.”
