Inter midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu is the favourite to start in the deepest role in the Nerazzurri’s midfield against Juventus in this evening’s Coppa Italia semifinal second leg clash.
This according to today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via FCInterNews, who report that there are three reasons in particular why the Turkish former AC Milan midfielder is favourite over Marcelo Brozovic.
The first reason why Tuttosport expect Calhanoglu to start as Inter’s regista and Brozovic to be benched is one that will be very familiar to Inter fans who have seen Simone Inzaghi’s coaching decisions over the past couple seasons.
Brozovic is one booking away from suspension, and the 47-year-old is never keen to take risks with players in situations like these.
Inzaghi will want a full complement of players available for any final against either Fiorentina or Cremonese, and this would certainly include midfielder Brozovic.
Accordingly, the coach will already have one eye towards the final as he aims to make sure that Brozovic will not be suspended for an accumulation of yellow cards, as he will want to be able to make whatever rotations he likes in that match and have a loaded bench at his disposal.
Then there is the simple fact that Brozovic has not looked at his best for long parts of this season.
Whilst the Croat did put in a fine display in the first leg of the Nerazzurri’s Champions League quarterfinal tie against Benfica, the truth is that performances like that have become the exception rather than the rule this season.
On the other hand, Calhanoglu has been in outstanding form for much of the campaign, and so Tuttosport anticipate that Inzaghi will want to have him in the control room in this evening’s massively important match.
Lastly, there is the fact that Calhanoglu has scored twice from the penalty spot against Juventus last season, something considered to be a positive omen.