Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi is having to find emergency solutions amid something of an injury crisis before the October international break.
This is highlighted in today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via FCInterNews.
It always seemed likely that Inter and Inzaghi would have to deal with some inconvenient absences at one stage or another.
In the first few weeks of the campaign, the team were only playing once a week. Therefore, the burden on player was not excessive.
But now, Inter are playing twice a week.
Whether it’s midweek fixtures in the Champions League or in Serie A, there is little rest for the squad.
This has resulted in a handful of injuries for Inzaghi to account for. And the coach is having to think about how to use some of his more versatile to cope with them.
Klaassen & Darmian Key Players For Inzaghi To Deal With Inter Injury Crisis
In attack, Inter will be without striker Marko Arnutovic for a while.
The Austrian could be back at the end of November, but no earlier than then.
Therefore, Inter have only three senior forwards available for the time being.
For Inzaghi, this has meant shifting the focus to repurposing other players in the squad into attacking midfielders or second strikers.
The coach has done so in the past. Players like Ivan Perisic and Stefano Sensi have featured in attack across the coach’s first couple seasons in charge.
Now, it is likely to be Henrikh Mkhitaryan and, possibly above all, former Ajax midfielder Davy Klaassen.
But both of the pair will also be called into action in midfield as well.
Injuries to Sensi and, above all, Davide Frattesi ensure that Inzaghi must get contributions from Klaassen in midfield.
Meanwhile, the versatility of defender Matteo Darmian could also be crucial.
As long as Juan Cuadrado is out with an injury, the 33-year-old will likely have to feature at right-wingback whenever Denzel Dumfries needs a rest.
But at the same time, Darmian is also the main backup to Benjamin Pavard on the right side of defense.
