Inter Milan defied the absence of numerous first-team stars in last night’s Coppa Italia quarter-final victory over Torino.
According to Tuttosport via FCInterNews, Cristian Chivu’s experimental lineup passed the test with flying colors.
With high-stakes fixtures coming thick and fast, Chivu decided to hand his regular starters a much-needed rest on Wednesday evening.
Despite fielding a ‘third-string’ lineup, featuring two Primavera teenagers, the 45-year-old guided Inter to a tight win at the Brianteo Stadium.
Mixed Inter Milan Lineup Overcomes Torino in Coppa Italia Quarter-Finals
Despite spending most of the season on the fringes, Andy Diouf was brimming with confidence in a rare start in midfield.
Indeed, the French ace scored his third goal for the club, doubling Inter’s lead at the start of the second half.
Meanwhile, Ange-Yoan Bonny chipped in with his seventh goal of the season to open the scoring.
Though Inter’s overall performance left a lot to be desired, they achieved the ultimate goal.
As a result, they’ll continue their pursuit of a landmark 10th Coppa Italia title in the semi-finals.
Last night game proved that kids can be relied on to deliver. They don’t have to start games per se, but every 3rd, 4th game some of them should get 15, 20 minutes per game. Better to play Alexiou in the back than any oldtimer from the back, Cocchi to give some breather to Dimarco on occasion, Kamate on the right showed much better option than Luis in attack. Topalovic, Bovo, Berenbruch instead of Mhiki and Frattesi when entering in 2nd half, and Iddrissou or Spinacce insteaad of lazy Thuram. The more they play for first team, the bigger their market value and experience.
Yes, coppa Italia is the perfect place to play youngsters, I would’ve start with them and if things go bad sub in the big guns.
On the wings, we can afford to try youngsters. In the back three, it is very risky.
Thuram has an issue of wanting to look cool rather than play with passion. Bonny runs the risk of imitating him. Neither holds-up or presses with intensity if Lautaro isn’t on the field.
As i’ve said against smaller, easier opponents we can play last 15, 20 minutes with 1 or 2 youngster in the team if we lead. When we have Thuram and Luis in the team that’s automatically one less player in defensive play, so the rest are used to cover their behinds. It has to start from somewhere, our league is usually the worst with letting our youngster prove themselves on the pitch, and we are maybe the worst at at that, at least before this season. Pio and the rest are a good starting point.