Inter's Latest Signing Makes Bizarre Debut: Title Ambitions Hinge on Overcoming Striker Dependence

Inter Milan's recent home defeat to Sassuolo by a score of 1-2 has caused a stir, not least because it marks Sassuolo as the first team since Udinese in January 2011 to consecutively defeat both Juventus and Inter Milan in Serie A. This loss extends Inter’s streak of underwhelming performances to three matches. Before their clash with Real Sociedad, the Italian media had been drawing flattering comparisons between Simone Inzaghi and Pep Guardiola, fueling expectations that Inter would easily triumph. However, a draw against Sociedad followed. Against Empoli, the narrative shifted to whether Milan, Juventus, or Napoli could secure second place, again building up Inter’s dominance, only for the team to eke out a narrow 1-0 victory. Post-Sassuolo, the same media outlets have turned on Inzaghi, leaving bewildered fans in a state of disbelief.

Reasons Behind Inter's Defeat

One of the obvious issues contributing to Inter's defeat is fatigue from their congested fixture schedule. The sight of players like Matteo Darmian barely able to stand towards the end of the match was a testament to this exhaustion. Another critical issue is highlighted by the debut of new signing Davy Klaassen. Coming on as a substitute in the 85th minute to replace Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Klaassen played for about 11 minutes, including stoppage time. His impact? Negligible, with only three touches recorded during his time on the pitch. Despite maintaining a 100% pass success rate, his limited involvement rendered him virtually ineffective.

Tactical Missteps

Why was Klaassen so detached from the play? In the final stages, Inter adopted an all-out attacking approach, with Inzaghi making several substitutions to bolster their forward line. The attacking ensemble of Lautaro Martínez, Alexis Sánchez, Davide Frattesi, Nicolò Barella, and Klaassen was in place. However, none of these players are taller than 1.8 meters, yet Inter inexplicably resorted to high crosses and long balls to break down Sassuolo’s defense. Sánchez, despite his commendable effort and 50% success rate in aerial duels, couldn't make up for the general inefficacy of this strategy.

Inzaghi's Tactical Dilemma

Inzaghi's decision to substitute Marcus Thuram, who had a zero percent success rate in aerial duels for this match, in favor of Klaassen might have been more about tactical experimentation than efficacy. Inter’s late-game reliance on high balls reflects a lingering habit from last season when they had the towering presence of Edin Dzeko and Romelu Lukaku to rely on. Currently, there’s no player on the squad capable of fulfilling that role. Thuram isn’t suited for it, nor are Lautaro or Sánchez. Marko Arnautović’s injury further exacerbates this issue, although even his presence might not have significantly altered the dynamics.

The overarching issue is Inter's "striker dependence"—the team’s performance heavily relies on the form and fitness of their forwards. When players like Lautaro and Thuram are in top form, Inter’s win rate soars. Conversely, when these forwards are fatigued or off-form, the team's performance plummets. The recent decline in form for both Lautaro and Thuram, coupled with Arnautović's injury, has exposed this vulnerability.

The Road Ahead

Inter’s quest for a 20th league title—the second star—depends on their ability to overcome this striker dependence. Improving the decisive contributions from other positions on the pitch is crucial. This reliance on strikers has been a recurring issue over the past seasons, explaining why Inter's cup performances have been stellar, yet their league form remains inconsistent.

Some have suggested that Inter could look to sign a free-agent striker like Stefano Okaka or Fabio Quagliarella and then aim for a more permanent solution in the January transfer window. However, Inter's CEO, Giuseppe Marotta, has firmly stated that the club will not be signing any forwards at present, putting the onus on Inzaghi to find solutions with the existing squad.

A Glimmer of Hope

Inzaghi has been provided with a squad that boasts significant depth and variety in midfield, aimed at addressing this very issue. The club's hierarchy had already anticipated these challenges, emphasizing that solving them would be a gradual process. Despite the recent setbacks, Inzaghi has not displayed the same public frustration as his predecessor Antonio Conte when faced with a shortage of options. Post-match, he reiterated that Klaassen could be a solution in Arnautović's absence, indicating his willingness to adapt the team’s tactical approach.

This latest loss against Sassuolo serves as a catalyst for Inter to address their dependence on a specific type of forward. Should they successfully navigate this phase, the defeat might be seen in hindsight as a pivotal moment that spurred the team towards greater strength and adaptability. The ability of Inzaghi and his coaching staff to implement these changes will directly influence whether Inter can realistically challenge for the title.

In a match where Sánchez was forced to play like Dzeko, and Klaassen struggled to make an impact, the Inter squad and coaching staff must now take a hard look at their strategies and player utilization. If this defeat accelerates their efforts to overcome the "striker dependence" and enhances their overall team cohesion, it might just be the step forward they needed.