Inter Milan midfielder Davide Frattesi and striker Marko Arnautovic showed “two faces” of the Nerazzurri with their performances off the bench against Hellas Verona.
This is the view in today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews.
As he often does, Inter coach made extensive use of his substitutes against Verona yesterday afternoon.
Two players who came off the bench in the second half were Frattesi and Arnautovic.
And the two respective performances could hardly have been more different.
Whilst one brought energy and life to the team, another seemed to be emblematic of a lack of that kind of vitality.
Frattesi showed that, even if he hasn’t impacted the team as much as he’d have liked to so far this season, he’s got plenty to give in the future.
And the 34-year-old Arnautovic raised further doubts about what he can add.
“Two Faces Of Inter” From Frattesi & Arnautovic Vs Verona
Inter’s squad construction has always looked to be a real balancing act between youth and experience.
There are some players right in the “sweet spot.” Nicolo Barella, Lautaro Martinez, Benjamin Pavard, Hakan Calhanoglu, Alessandro Bastoni, Federico Dimarco, and Denzel Dumfries are all in their prime.
But on the other hand, Inter have plenty of veterans.
Players like Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Matteo Darmian, Yann Sommer, and Francesco Acerbi are all 34 and older. And they are all key starters.
At the other end of the spectrum, Yann Bisseck has shown great prospects for the future.
The German is already starting to perform at a high level. But at 23 years of age, the really exciting aspect is that he could get better.
That is essentially the case with Frattesi.
Expectations for the Italian international are higher than he has so far delivered.
But Frattesi has at least popped up with important goals. Yesterday was the biggest one yet.
But Arnautovic seems to show the other side of the strategy that’s paid off with players like Darmian and Mkhitaryan.
The ex-West Ham United striker endured a tough performance looking off the required level.
And unlike Frattesi, the hope of Arnautovic improving or growing is virtually nonexistent.
