It is no coincidence that Simone Inzaghi rested Lautaro Martinez, Federico Dimarco, and Benjamin Pavard ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League clash between Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan.
Today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via FCInterNews, reveal the coach’s plans with his squad rotation.
Inzaghi made some eye-catching changes to the starting eleven against Bologna on Saturday.;
There were six different outfield players out of ten compared to the previous match against Genoa.
The most intriguing decisions by Inzaghi concerned the players who not only did not start the match, but did not play at all.
Captain and striker Martinez, wingback Dimarco, and defender Pavard were all on the bench for the full ninety minutes.
And according to Tuttosport, this points to a particular importance of having the trio available tomorrow.
No Coincidence To Inzaghi Rotation Decisions Ahead Of Atletico Vs Inter
In the case of Martinez, the reason for the captain getting a rest was relatively simple.
The 26-year-old is simply a key player for Inter. He is the team’s top scorer for the third season in a row. And Martinez’s linkup play and defensive effort are virtually as important to the team as his goals.
But for Dimarco and Pavard it hints at more of a plan from Inzaghi.
Tuttosport note that it will likely be vital that Inter can take advantage of their counterattacking opportunities tomorrow against Atletico Madrid.
The Colchoneros will surely push forward intensely for long stretches in the Champions League round of sixteen second leg. They are chasing the tie at the start, after all.
That means that gap will inevitably open up at the back for the La Liga giants.
And Inter are certainly adept at exploiting such gaps.
But the Nerazzurri will really be reliant on certain players to get the ball from one end of the pitch to the other in as little time as possible when Atletico lose the ball.
One is Dimarco. The 26-year-old’s ability to spot space makes him an important outlet for long balls.
And Dimarco is also perhaps Inter’s single most proficient passer of the ball over long distance. His diagonal switches give the team an immense threat of instantly transitioning from defense to attack.
Similarly, Pavard’s vision and passing range have proven a very effective weapon from deep.
As have the Frenchman’s runs forward in the channel and in wide areas.
Inzaghi will want to use both of that duo heavily against Atletico tomorrow. Therefore, it was only natural that the coach would want both as fresh as possible.
