Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi has squad rotation “down to a science.”
Today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews, note how this policy has its good and bad sides, but that the coach is unshakable in his views as he aims to prevent injuries.
So far this season, squad rotation has been a common sight for Inter.
Occasionally this has taken the form of Inzaghi making fairly radical changes to the team.
The starting eleven for a 3-3 Champions League group stage draw away to Benfica was certainly an example of this.
But more often than that, Inzaghi has been more selective and judicious with which players he has decided to take out of the starting lineup to give a rest.
Against Real Sociedad on Tuesday, the Inter coach gave a clear demonstration of that.
Three key players were out of the starting eleven. Striker and captain Lautaro Martinez, midfielder Nicolo Barella, and defender Alessandro Bastoni all got a rest from the start.
But the rest of the team was largely players who are first-choice starters.
Simone Inzaghi Has Squad Rotation “Down To A Science” At Inter
In one sense, Tuesday’s match against La Real showed the less positive side of Inzaghi’s rotation policy.
The absence of all of the three players who got a rest was felt. Particularly Martinez in attack.
This has led to some criticism of Inzaghi’s use of squad rotation.
But the coach does not make changes to his team without reason.
Rather, Inzaghi’s aim is to try and preserve the fitness of his players as much as possible throughout the long season.
Obviously, some injuries and physical problems are inevitable.
But it is the view of Inzaghi that he can minimize them with the right rotations.
The coach is careful in how he monitors which players may need to sit out matches from the start.
