Inter coach Simone Inzaghi has come in for criticism for his side’s 1-0 defeat to Bologna in Serie A yesterday from Italian journalist Fabio Caressa.
The Nerazzurri were poor in the loss at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, with a Riccardo Orsolini strike enough to settle the match in Bologna’s favour and condemn Inter to a seventh league defeat of the season.
Appearing on Italian television broadcaster Sky Sport Italia to discuss the match yesterday, and as reported by Inter-News.it, Caressa argued that Inzaghi’s methods of constantly rotating his squad were dated and had contributed to the Nerazzurri’s struggles to keep up with leaders Napoli this season.
“If there is something to reproach Inzaghi for, it is not the way he plays – which we can talk about – but the fact that all these things give the idea of a group that does not push in the same direction. And in some realities that is more important than other aspects,” Caressa argued.
“Inzaghi changed a lot today, but at this point in the season it is time for choices: Lukaku or Dzeko? Calhanoglu or Brozovic? It seems to me that Inzaghi is one of the few to make this pre-emptive turnover.
“Napoli don’t. For me this turnover is old stuff, if you look at the top European level nobody does rotation anymore.
“Plus there’s another matter: does Calhanoglu easily adapt to the advanced position after playing a season in the deep-lying role?”
Caressa also suggested that Inzaghi needed to manage the squad more effectively, with less of a focus on tactics and more on how to get the best out of the team on a human level.
“One thing comes to mind: we talk a lot about tactics but it seems to me that football is moving towards one-on-one and towards duels between the great players,” he continued.
“Football is going in another direction a little bit because of marketing, because young people are more interested in skills and less in tactics, but also because the coach has changed his job a little.
“It is important first and foremost that he is a manager of men, because if you manage men well you have this year’s Napoli, if you manage them badly you have Potter’s Chelsea.”
Inter striker Lautaro Martinez cut a frustrated figure against Bologna and hit out at the team following the game, but Caressa felt it was indicative of wider issues within the club.
“The picture is of Lautaro Martinez desperately flailing in the box and then saying important things at the end of the match. There is a very strong message of frustration towards his teammates.
“That’s the image that goes with other images we’ve seen throughout the season, such as the squabble between Lukaku and Barella or the latter’s complaining.”
Inter look to get back on track when they welcome Lecce to the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Serie A on Sunday.
