Inter Milan Coach Thinking About Major Defensive Reshuffle Amid Injury Crisis

Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi is considering a major reshuffle of the back three against Empoli as he confronts an injury crisis in defense.

Today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews, report that Alessandro Bastoni will start in the central defensive position if both Francesco Acerbi and Stefan de Vrij are unavailable.

Inter could be without both Acerbi and de Vrij for their first match back from the international break.

In the case of de Vrij, it is virtually certain that the Dutchman will be out.

Inter have confirmed that de Vrij is recovering from a thigh strain. It is not an overly serious injury, but he will hardly rush back to action against Empoli next week.

Meanwhile, Acerbi could be unavailable for entirely different reasons.

The 36-year-old is awaiting the verdict in an investigation into his alleged racial abuse of Napoli’s Juan Jesus in a Serie A match before the break.

If Acerbi is to be found guilty of racially abusing Jesus, he faces a suspension that will see him miss the rest of the season.

Inzaghi Ponders Defensive Reshuffle To Cope With Inter Injury Crisis

So far this season, Inter have never been without both Acerbi and de Vrij in a match.

The pair have split duties playing in the centre of Inter’s back three. They are the two players in the Nerazzurri’s squad most adept at playing the position by far.

If Inzaghi can select neither Acerbi nor de Vrij, he will have to find another solution.

None of the other defenders quite have Acerbi’s combination of height, strength, and man-marking ability.

But according to the Corriere, Inzaghi has a clear idea of who he’ll start.

It will be Alessandro Bastoni, who normally starts on the left of Inter’s back three, who anchors the defense against Empoli in the absence of de Vrij and Acerbi.

Meanwhile, on the right it will be Benmjamin Pavard. There is little doubt that the Frenchman will play there.

And on the left, there would be three possibilities.

One would be for Yann Bisseck to play in the position. This season, the German has played on the right of the defense for Inter.

But Bisseck had played on the left for his previous club Aarhus.

Meanwhile, Inzaghi could go for a couple of versatile options on the left.

One would be Carlos Augusto, who has played in the role this season.

And another would be Matteo Darmian.

The 34-year-old former Manchester United defender has already played at right-wingback, left-wingback, and right centre-back this season. He could add the left of the back three to that list.