The summer signings that Inter Milan have made could affect their tactics in the 2023-24, though the change won’t be too radical.
This is the view in today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via FCInterNews, who predict that the Nerazzurri will continue to employ a high-octane counterattacking style of play with a relatively low defensive line for the upcoming season.
Last season, Inter had a clearly identifiable style of play under Inzaghi.
The coach always used his customary 3-5-2 formation to set the team up. As far as the strategy went, the Nerazzurri would press high up the pitch intermittently, but were generally more accustomed to sitting deeper.
Quick, highly vertical passing moves were Inter’s modus operandi in possession.
Hakan Calhanoglu coming in for Marcelo Brozovic as the first-choice regista ensured that very direct passes were at the heart of the Nerazzurri’s buildup play.
The wingbacks also had a key role to play in moving the ball from back to front quickly. In this respect, the versatile array of passes that Federico Dimarco had in his pocket were important.
Last time around, this approach had mixed results in the league. Inter comfortably secured a top four spot in the end, but were never close to Napoli in the race for the Scudetto.
Meanwhile, in the Champions League, Inter’s style of play took them tantalizingly close to glory – the Nerazzurri lost in the final only narrowly to Manchester City.
New Signings To Keep Inter Milan A Counterattacking Side In 2023-24
Naturally, the addition of some new signings will alter the balance a bit for Inter.
Not too much, however, suggests Tuttosport. The newspaper anticipates that Inzaghi will want to double down on the aspects of play that worked last campaign.
Starting in goal, Andre Onana now looks on the verge of leaving for Manchester United. The Cameroonian is a player who is extremely proactive in possession by the standards of his position.
Compared to Onana’s intricate style of passing in buildup, a replacement like Yann Sommer looks more traditional.
With Onana gone, the Nerazzurri will not have a keeper who favours short passes close to his own goal. This will certainly lead to a shift away from the methodical buildup play that Inter favoured last season.
Davide Frattesi coming in for Brozovic means that Inter have a more direct, all-action presence in midfield. This will continue the theme of less intricate buildup, and more back-to-front attacking moves at pace.
The same is also true of the signing of Marcus Thuram to replace the slower Edin Dzeko. Whilst the Bosnian had encouraged more slowly-unfolding passing moves, the Frenchman allows the Nerazzurri to be more direct.
