Inter Milan were “almost unrecognizable” against Fiorentina yesterday with Hakan Calhanoglu absent in midfield.
This is the verdict in today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper La Repubblica, via FCInterNews.
Inter were without two key midfielders yesterday evening new to suspension.
Hakan Calhanoglu and Nicolo Barella had both picked up yellow cards during the Supercoppa Italiana.
And since bookings in the Supercoppa carried over to Serie A, the pair were not part of the squad for yesterday’s match.
Young duo Davide Frattesi and Kristjan Asllani failled in for them.
Frattesi did provide a similar sort of profile in midfield to Barella. Perhaps some of the latter’s experience, tactical nous, and technical quality were missing.
But Frattesi certainly put in a hard-running performance in the centre of the pitch.
Inter “Unrecognizable” Vs Fiorentina Without Hakan Calhanoglu
And Asllani also put in a mature display.
Particularly defensively, the Albanian could hardly be faulted for any lack of application or focus.
Moreover, Asllani did do what he could to keep the ticking over in possession.
Asllani slowed down the tempo to help give his team a breather when Fiorentina tried to press them relentlessly.
But what the Albanian couldn’t really provide was Calhanoglu’s more attack-minded passes.
The Turkish international is the player who tends to link Inter’s defense, midfield, and attack with his passing.
And Asllani was not quite able to provide that same sort of quality or versatility with the ball.
Therefore, Inter’s counterattack did not look as precise and fluid as it does at its best.
Inter did get the result that they came for at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
But it was a performance that underlined just how crucial Calhanoglu is to the team.
The 29-year-old former AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen has well and truly become a player the Nerazzurri can’t do without if they want to play their most attractive and dangerous football.