Federico Dimarco and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are particularly struggling to adjust to the tactical changes Cristian Chivu is making at Inter Milan.
Today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, note how neither of the pair quite fit into the 3-4-2-1 formation that the new coach has been experimenting with.
Cristian Chivu has been Inter Milan coach for a couple of weeks now.
Therefore, the Romanian has had a number of training sessions to put his stamp on the team.
Moreover, Chivu has been on the bench for two Inter matches so far. He has coached the Nerazzurri in Club World Cup matches against Monterrey and Red Diamonds.
Meanwhile, the Nerazzurri have one more group stage match to go in the tournament. Watch Inter Milan vs River Plate for FREE with DAZN on any device!
These matches have presented an invaluable opportunity to observe how Chivu will try and change the team.
Sometimes, the 44-year-old has stuck closely with the 3-5-2 shape that Simone Inzaghi had virtually always used.
However, Chivu has also tested out a 3-4-2-1 formation. That was the starting formation for Saturday’s clash with Urawa Red Diamonds.
Dimarco & Mkhitaryan Struggle To Adapt As Chivu Tests Out Change In Shape At Inter
A big question with this change in formation has been how certain players would adapt.
Inzaghi’s 3-5-2 formation had gotten the best out of a number of players in the squad.
And there are some early signs that certain players in the squad aren’t nearly as comfortable in a 3-4-2-1 formation.
Wingback Federico Dimarco had been one of the big success stories under Inzaghi at Inter.
The Italian international had an enormous amount of freedom on the pitch, and particularly in the final third, under Inzaghi.
On the other hand, in the 3-4-2-1 Dimarco has to stay wider and deeper. This is because, with two attacking midfielders, it is harder for the 27-year-old to drift infield without stepping on other players’ toes.
Meanwhile, Henrikh Mkhitaryan was another of Inzaghi’s most-used players. The Armenian was the player who brought balance to the left side of Inter’s team.
But the role that Mkhitaryan really thrived in under Inzaghi was on the left of the midfield trio.
The 36-year-old doesn’t quite have a natural position now, either in the midfield double pivot, or as an attacking midfielder.
dima is just tired. he needs to rest and work on his body. he’s getting fatter than anyone’s mom. give dude a long rest. pretty sure carlos or zalewski can take his spot without problems, I’d say zalewski cause carlos is basto’s backup.
mhiki is still our another leader in midfield with barella, his playing time needs to be reduced so we don’t fully rely on him anymore. we still need him. sub him out around 60 mins maybe the best thing to do and use others in coppa or few CL matches
I only have one question, where’s palacios? wasn’t he projected to fill acerbi’s shoes?
Don’t really agree with this article…. DiMarco is struggling with form, fitness, and confidence… it has nothing to do with the formation… It would appear that it is too much to allow him some rest, and hope that he returns to his best… he’s had a bad fee months, so let’s turn on the life long Interisti with huge talent, and ship him out immediately!!! God forbid we just give Augusto 10 starts and let DiMarco sort himself out…..
Miki, on the other hand, has actually looked like one of our better players this tournament- horrendous finishing aside- but we cannot possibly start a new era, and yet another season, with a 36 year old as our mainstay in midfield?!? Sucic needs to be given the role going forward, and Miki just needs to step back and move on….
I agree with everything you said. Dimarco, I believe, is suffering from both exhaustion and a lack of competition. Inzaghi essentially had a guaranteed starting eleven and it can cause complacency. Miki is a true professional and a very intelligent footballer but when he loses his legs he starts giving the ball away. He needs to start having some games off.
Theo is leaving Milan, why not take him as Dimarco is declining fast, and l he was never able to play more than 60 mins even on his prime
Theo is a nasty, diving, Prima Donna, and has shown what a problem he can be over the last 12 months…. He’s also the player I despise the most on this planet…. Having said that Cuadrado was the player I despised the most before him, and most people on here welcomed him with open arms, despite his catalogue of despicable incidents against Inter, so you never know….
my thoughts, your words!! cuadrado was the only player I ever truly hated!! that aside Hernandez would be a good buy if he wanted to come. got age, talent on his side. that being said he would have something to prove against our smaller bilan rivals.
I know your feeling, from business standpoint LWB is rare position and hard to find quality replacement especially at 30mill, he is still one of the best around unlike Cuadrado who came on past his prime, that position has been the weakest spot since Dimarco injury, his pace and physicality will be great addition, his quality will erase the stigma about him just like when Hakan joined us
theooo???? you want to start a death match with dumfries at the training grounds?
They can brush it off, just like Messi and Ramos at PSG, it’s football what happen on the pitch stays on the pitch
Mikhi, Darmian and Acerbi need to move on from Inter.
Zielinski too should be sold before his value falls further.
Disagree about Miki. He’s a pro. He can’t play every game, though. Acerbi is an attitude guy and the team needs fighters.
Darmian is a nice guy but his play drags the team down on attack. He basically derails any attacking movements up the right.
This comes to show that relying heavily on tactics provides lack of flexibility. Players should be able to perform at their best regardless of tactics otherwise you are just limiting you ability and growth soley for that tactic. I am actually loving these changes under Chivu.
Indeed. In this case, if they could not adapt to this change, then they should find another club that suitable for their playstyle. Inter needs to move from 3-5-2 and find plan B. Inzaghi’s Inter heavily relied on this and the result is disaster. Inter under Chivu needs to have at least 2-3 different system and formation so we can find a good results against multiple opponents tactics and playstyle. Prefer Chivu over Dimarco and Mkhitaryan.
disaster…! interesting choice of words. inters net spend in 4yrs under inzaghi was in the negatives. yet we won 3 supercoppas, 1 serie a, came runner up to two serie a titles by 1 point, reached 2 UCL finals… if this is your definition of disaster, i would love us to have few more disaster seasons
It definitely was a disaster. Good managers allow youth to grow within the team while winning. Inzaghi only played one tactic and allowed no opportunities to young players. Also his football was was horrendous to watch with no possession at all.
2 champions league finals in 3 years and a scudetto is hardly a disaster. The team was clearly in decline, however, and Inzaghi showed no signs of being able to adapt.