Italian media note how turning the screw in the second halves of Serie A matches has become the MO for Inter Milan under Simone Inzaghi.
Today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, highlight the importance of well-timed substitutions to the Nerazzurri’s plan after the interval.
Against Torino over the weekend, Inter failed to really show their quality or superiority in the first half.
There were some good moments from the Nerazzurri, but few telling chances.
It was the Granata who controlled the tempo for long stretched. Particularly towards the last fifteen minutes of the half, they were in the ascendancy and created several good chances to score.
But in the second half the story became very different.
How Inter Dominate Second Halves Under Simone Inzaghi
Torino are a team who play a very specific way.
The Granata can make life difficult for virtually any team. They do so with an organized, physical style of man-to-man pressing.
In the first half of Saturday’s match, the positive side of that style of play was evident.
But with teams like the Granata, there are always questions about whether they can maintain that kind of tempo.
On Saturday, the answer appeared to be no.
Ivan Juric’s team dropped off a bit. And that’s when Inzaghi acted to make changes.
The coach made changes on both flanks and in midfield.
This injection of energy and fresh legs allowed the Nerazzurri to really start to impose themselves right when Torino started to lose a step.
That was also a similar pattern against Salernitana when Lautaro Martinez came on the score four goals in the second half after a difficult first half.
And in the Champions League, it had been similar.
The Nerazzurri seem to be capable of holding on through tough matches. And then in the second half, they have what it takes to find another gear.
