There is no hiding it now – Inter Milan are in the midst of a full-blown injury crisis with Denzel Dumfries and Stefan de Vrij out.
This is highlighted in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews. The newspaper note how the duo’s absence for a few weeks will stretch the Nerazzurri thin.
For Inter, losing de Vrij and Dumfries is not so much a problem in terms of the number of players who are on the sidelines.
The Nerazzurri have a deep enough squad that they can certainly weather a few injury absences.
Rather, the issue is the way that the injuries are piling up in one specific area of the pitch.
Benjamin Pavard is already out with an injury. And the Frenchman won’t be back until the match against Lazio later this month at the earliest.
Pavard plays on the right side of the defense.
That has meant that in the last month Matteo Darmian has been the first-choice option ion the right of the back three in the former Bayern Munich defender’s absence.
But now that Dumfries will also be out for around twenty days – the same amount of time as de Vrij – things get really complicated for Inter.
Inter Facing Real Injury Crisis With Dumfries & De Vrij Out
Darmian is not just cover for Pavard in the back three.
The former Manchester United and Torino veteran can also deputize for Dumfries at right-wingback.
Juan Cuadrado arrived on a free transfer during the summer. On paper, the former Juventus and Chelsea wingback is a viable first-choice backup for Dumfries – or even competition as the starter.
But Cuadrado has had plenty of fitness problems of his own this season.
Whilst the Colombian hasn’t suffered any major injuries, persistent tendon problems have kept him out of a number of matchday squads and cast doubt on his ability to play a full ninety minutes.
Therefore, with Dumfries missing several matches, Darmian will likely have more responsibilities on the right flank.
And since the 34-year-old can’t be in two places at once, there are problems.
De Vrij has played on the right of the defense a couple of times this season. The 31-year-old former Lazio and Feyenoord veteran has covered there ably.
But now de Vrij is also out for several matches.
Therefore, it will likely be Yann Bisseck who gets more minutes in the position in the next couple weeks.
The Germany Under-21 defender is still not the finished article. So Inter will have to hope that Bisseck shows real maturity in his upcoming appearances.
Between Bisseck, Darmian, and Cuadrado, Inter should just about have the resources in their squad to cover at right-centre-back and right-wingback in the next couple weeks.
Then Pavard’s return should simplify matters.
But at least until the Frenchman comes back, the Nerazzurri will be crossing their fingers that Darmian can stay fit.
And that the raw Bisseck and the aging Cuadrado can just about prove their worth.
