Inter Milan must find a way to get striker Marcus Thuram in better form when captain Lautaro Martinez isn’t on the pitch.
This is the view in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews.
Inter captain Martinez has missed his team’s last couple matches through injury.
The Argentine’s thigh problem hasn’t been serious, and he should be back soon. But the injury has been enough to force the captain onto the sidelines, a rare occurrence for him.
Inter didn’t really miss Martinez against Lecce before Christmas. They produced a convincing 2-0 victory in that match.
But against Genoa on Friday, the Nerazzurri didn’t quite look at their best.
A disjointed attack seemed to be a big part of the reason why Inter could only manage a draw away in Liguria.
And it wasn’t just the absence of Martinez that was the problem. It was also the effect that it had on the other first-choice striker.
Inter Must Improve Marcus Thuram Form Without Lautaro
So far this season, French international Thuram has been nearly as important for Inter as Martinez.
The 26-year-old has formed a formidable tandem with Inter’s captain.
Thuram brings more pace and dribbling ability than Martinez.
But broadly, the two strikers have worked out an arrangement that takes advantage of their relatively similar profiles.
Neither of Thuram or Martinez are the most conventional of strikers.
Both of the pair are often happy to drop deep in the pitch.
Therefore, both have coordinated and almost taken turns as the striker in the box, whilst the other has had more freedom of movement.
That arrangement has gotten the best out of both Thuram and Martinez.
But against Lecce and Genoa, Thuram has had to work with Marko Arnautovic, a more traditional “big man” centre-forward.
And whilst the Austrian’s performances have been fine given his style and the role he has had in the team, Thuram has not been able to look nearly as dynamic with him as a foil.
With Martinez on the pitch, the Frenchman has really impacted matches.
So far, Thuram hasn’t really figured out how to play off of Arnautovic.
And that, the Gazzetta argues, needs to be a priority for Inter.