Inter Milan The Physically Dominant Force In Serie A As Rivals Try To Catch Up

Inter Milan remain the team who use their physicality to greatest effect in Serie A, leaving rivals to try and catch up.

This is the view in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews.

Last season, Inter seemed to find a formula that had the team in a good balance of technical and physical attributes.

The Nerazzurri could rely on the stamina and energy of their midfield trio of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Hakan Calhanoglu, and Nicolo Barella.

Then, Davide Frattesi in reserve certainly injected pace and intensity when he played.

Meanwhile, Inter’s two-striker system ensured plenty of running and battling with opposition defenders.

The wingback roles gave Inter no shortage of running and coverage of the flanks. And coach Simone Inzaghi’s use of substitutions to freshen up meant that the wide players didn’t have to worry too much about burning themselves out.

And in defense, the use of a back three also gave Inter a physical advantage.

The wide players in the back three in particular frequently pushed into midfield and even attack.

Therefore, the pace and physicality of players like Alessandro Bastoni, Benjamin Pavard, and Yann Bisseck was always a threat.

Inter Milan Still The Physically Dominant Force In Serie A

At the start of this season, not much looks to have changed.

Inter remain a very physical team. That is not to say there is any lack of technical finesse to the Nerazzurri. But pace and power are certainly very important.

Inter have learned over the last three season with the intense man-to-man pressing that many midtable teams employ in the Italian top flight.

And moreover, the Nerazzurri have added another physical striker in Mehdi Taremi. The Iranian put in a real shift for the team in his first start of the season against Lecce.

Therefore, the Gazzetta suggests, it is no surprise to see Inter’s rivals trying to catch up.

AC Milan have signed Yusuf Fofana and Emerson Royal. And Napoli are on the verge of signing Scott McTominay and Romelu Lukaku.

Juventus, meanwhile, have certainly emphasized physical attributes in their midfield rebuild.

All of Khephren Thuram, Douglas Luiz, and Teun Koopmeiners bring energy and physicality to the Bianconeri engine room.

So all of these teams will hope to use their physicality to greater effect. But in the view of the Gazzetta, Inter remain the team to beat in this respect.