Inter Milan Coach's Three-Point Strategy for Juventus Clash: Avoiding the Barca Trap, Three Points Don't Equal the Title

Millions of Italians are buzzing with anticipation ahead of this weekend's Derby d'Italia between Inter Milan and Juventus. This is one of the most significant derbies in years, with the top two teams in the standings going head-to-head in a clash that could heavily influence the title race. Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri has been employing every psychological tactic at his disposal, stirring up controversy with his provocative comments. Meanwhile, Inter Milan's coach Simone Inzaghi has maintained a low profile but has clearly communicated his strategy to his players.

Strategy One: Reducing the Load

Inzaghi's first strategy is to manage the players' workload carefully. This involves giving the players some time off and slightly lowering the intensity of training sessions. According to reporters following the team, Inzaghi noticed that his players were exhausted, both physically and mentally, after winning the Supercoppa Italiana and facing tough opponents like Lazio and Napoli. The team played high-quality matches to win the trophy but inevitably saw a dip in energy and passion afterward. This was evident in their match against Fiorentina, where they did not perform at their peak level.

Some fans were unhappy with the team's performance against Fiorentina, but it's unrealistic to expect a team to perform at maximum intensity in every match, especially after a series of demanding games. After defeating Fiorentina, Inzaghi rewarded the players with a two-day break, which was a pre-planned and necessary decision. The coach believes that giving the players time to rest is more beneficial than having additional training sessions or extensive pre-match briefings.

Strategy Two: Avoiding Controversy

The second strategy is to steer clear of controversy and ignore Allegri's provocations. For some time, Juventus' coach, players, and affiliated media have tried to drag discussions into contentious areas, such as allegations of favoritism, controversial refereeing decisions, and more. Inzaghi has made it clear that he will not engage in these distractions.

There is debate among fans and pundits about this approach, with many arguing that Inter should confront Allegri directly and engage in the verbal sparring. However, as the saying goes, "Do not do what the enemy wants you to do." Since Juventus initiated this war of words, it indicates that they feel a greater need for such "total warfare." Engaging in this could be walking into a trap. Analyst Alessandro Altobelli's perspective is noteworthy: "In football, some teams love to engage in media battles, like how Barcelona often clashes with Real Madrid. However, Real Madrid spends millions more on media PR each year than Barcelona, making it an uneven fight. Inter cannot afford to emulate Barcelona. Ignoring Allegri's provocations is the wise move."

During Steven Zhang's tenure, Inter and its Chinese office have focused their limited media budget on expanding their online presence and enhancing their social media impact, significantly reducing the funds allocated to traditional media compared to the Massimo Moratti era. This has earned them animosity from many traditional media figures. Given this context, avoiding a media war with Juventus before the derby is a pragmatic choice.

Strategy Three: Relieving Pressure

The third strategy is to alleviate the pressure on the players. Inzaghi repeatedly reminds his team that winning against Juventus does not guarantee the title, nor does losing this match mean the championship is lost. This derby is not decisive. For some time, Inter has been dealing with the complications arising from changes in regulations by the Italian FA—such as yellow cards in the Supercoppa Italiana carrying over into the league, which impacts Inter's league campaign, and a new rule that if the top two teams are tied on points at the end of the season, they will play a tiebreaker instead of using head-to-head results or goal difference. This nullifies Inter's current goal difference advantage of 17 goals over Juventus in a close title race.

Feeling the pressure of a close standings and aware of the potential pitfalls, many commentators and fans believe Inter must win the derby. Former players like Giuseppe Bergomi and various sports newspapers argue that anything less than a win for Inter would be disastrous, giving Juventus the upper hand in the title race. However, Inzaghi sees things differently. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the coach believes that even if Inter wins this match, they cannot afford to drop points in subsequent games. Conversely, even if they do not win, they remain the theoretical frontrunners. Inzaghi's message to his players is clear: this match is crucial, but it is not the ultimate decider of the championship. The Serie A title will not be decided in the 23rd round, and Inter must not impose excessive mental pressure on themselves.

This also influences tactical choices. Allegri will likely set Juventus up defensively, relying on counter-attacks. If Inter push too aggressively for the win, they risk exposing themselves to these counter-attacks. Given that Inter, with a game in hand, leads Juventus by one point, why should they feel they are the ones trailing? Allegri claims his goal is only to secure a top-four finish—should Inter take that at face value? Inzaghi advises his players that Juventus is actually in a more precarious position.

In summary, Inzaghi's three-point strategy for preparing for Juventus involves managing the players' physical and mental load, avoiding unnecessary controversy, and relieving the pressure on the team. Whether this approach is effective will be judged after the derby.