Inter Milan's Strategy to Cope with Left-Side Shortage: Shifting Resources from Right to Left

Inter Milan face a mounting injury crisis, described by Italian media as "three serious, two minor," in the aftermath of their Champions League match. The "three serious" injuries involve Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Francesco Acerbi, and Carlos Augusto. These key players are set to miss several critical matches, and manager Simone Inzaghi is hopeful of having Çalhanoğlu and Acerbi back in early November. As for Augusto, further tests will confirm his timeline, but initial estimates suggest he could be sidelined until the latter half of November.

The "two minor" injuries refer to Kristjan Asllani and Tajon Buchanan. Asllani, in theory, has recovered from his issue but is not fully match-fit and thus not ideal for starting a high-stakes game like the Derby d’Italia against Juventus. Buchanan, who suffered a fracture during the summer, has spent weeks in recovery training but has yet to regain his rhythm. Missing from the squad against Young Boys due to a bout of influenza, Buchanan's long absence makes it unlikely he will play a significant role in such a crucial fixture immediately.

Despite this injury wave, Inter's situation is not the worst compared to some clubs, like Manchester United, who have faced scenarios with only three fit midfielders. Nevertheless, the Nerazzurri have two pressing concerns: midfield depth and the shortage on the left flank. As the veteran journalist La Vecchia points out, many criticize Simone Inzaghi for overly relying on Henrikh Mkhitaryan, but with so many midfield absences, fielding three starters and having just one reliable substitute is a significant challenge. Critics should, at the very least, hold off until this difficult phase passes. Fortunately, as La Gazzetta dello Sport highlights, numerous matches since last season have shown that Inter remain cohesive as long as Nicolò Barella is in the lineup, even when Çalhanoğlu is unavailable.

The more glaring problem lies on the left flank. Italy internationals Federico Dimarco and Alessandro Bastoni have become crucial to the team's system. Dimarco functions as Inter's playmaking engine, boasting elite metrics in set-piece threat, expected assists, key passes, and final-third touches. Bastoni, meanwhile, is pivotal for attacking efficiency and was featured extensively in tactical analyses. Yet, both players have limitations in stamina. Playing full-intensity matches for 90 minutes is already taxing for them, let alone participating in a congested schedule where they are needed every three days. With both their backups, Buchanan and Augusto, sidelined, the left flank shortage poses Inter's biggest challenge.

One option is to look internally for potential solutions. During the summer, Inter reinforced their defense by signing two young players, both currently assigned to youth squads. However, one of them, Alex Pérez, is dealing with an injury and won't be fit until December, leaving him unavailable for consideration. The other, Palacios, was signed for a transfer fee potentially rising to €11 million, but the young talent is still in an adjustment phase. Unable to communicate in Italian or English, Palacios is struggling to grasp Inzaghi's tactical instructions. The coaching staff, however, have not given up on him. The original plan was to gradually integrate him into the first team mid-season.

Relying on internal options carries risk, especially given the pressure for results. Inter Milan is a club where scrutiny is relentless, both domestically and internationally. Critics who call Inzaghi conservative with his squad management would likely be the first to complain if young players were fielded and made costly mistakes. Given the stakes of the Derby d’Italia, Inzaghi is unlikely to gamble on unproven talent. Instead, the most plausible interim solution involves "shifting from right to left," or as the Italian expression "spostare da est a ovest" goes, redistributing resources from the right flank to cover the gaps on the left.

Inzaghi has already tested this approach in the Champions League match against Young Boys, fielding Benjamin Pavard as a makeshift left-sided center-back. Pavard's unconventional role injected new ideas into Inter’s play, including an adventurous inside cut and shot attempt from his weaker foot. Although Pavard missed the opportunity to score, a goal would have earned Inzaghi much praise for his creativity. Pavard's presence on the left brought a fresh dynamic, such as the potential to attack crosses at the far post, and this experiment holds promise for future matches.

Another versatile option is Matteo Darmian. Under Inzaghi, Darmian has played in multiple roles, including right wing-back, left wing-back, right center-back, and left center-back. His adaptability has been proven repeatedly, and with the current shortage on the left, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Darmian take up duties there again. The right flank players, such as Pavard and Denzel Dumfries, have rotated more frequently this season and are thus in better physical condition compared to their left-sided counterparts. Inzaghi's plan to temporarily "rob Peter to pay Paul" may not be adventurous, but it is pragmatic and designed to stabilize the team during this injury crisis.

Yet, such makeshift measures can only serve as temporary fixes. The long-term solution must involve developing new squad depth. One option is to reintegrate Buchanan and other recovering players as soon as they are ready for competitive action. Another is to accelerate Palacios’s adaptation to the first-team environment. Given the demanding schedule, with multiple competitions overlapping, having one or two additional rotational players could make a significant difference.

Club insiders suggest that the upcoming fixtures against Empoli on October 30 and Venezia on November 3 may present opportunities for players to make their season debuts. Buchanan and Palacios are the leading candidates for these appearances, but the coaching staff will assess their readiness carefully. As the Inter faithful eagerly await, the team’s ability to navigate this testing period could be pivotal in determining their success across multiple fronts.