Inzaghi’s Worst Start at Inter Not Due to Rotation: Key Lessons Highlight Dual-Core Principle

As Inter Milan found themselves held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Monza, head coach Simone Inzaghi was left with a bitter taste, a stark contrast to his previous strong starts at the helm of the Nerazzurri. Since taking over as manager, Inzaghi's opening four matches in Serie A have been solid, yielding three wins and a draw in the 2021-22 season, three wins and one loss in 2022-23, and a flawless four victories to kick off 2023-24. This season, however, the story has been different. With two wins and two draws, it marks Inzaghi's worst start since joining Inter, raising questions about the factors behind this sluggish beginning.

After taking time to reflect, three primary critiques have emerged, each offering different perspectives on the team's struggles. Of these, the third viewpoint seems to resonate most, shedding light on a critical tactical lesson.

Gazzetta dello Sport: Star Players Let Inzaghi Down

One prominent view comes from the esteemed Gazzetta dello Sport, Italy’s leading sports publication. The paper suggests that the issue lies not in Inzaghi’s rotation policy but rather in the underperformance of his most trusted players. The likes of Benjamin Pavard, Marcus Thuram, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan — considered key figures in the squad — were unable to rise to the occasion, leaving Inzaghi's tactical plan undermined.

Gazzetta pointed out that despite not producing an "8-out-of-10" performance like he had done for the Italian national team, Davide Frattesi still performed reasonably well. Similarly, while Kristjan Asllani’s performance wasn’t spectacular, he wasn’t the root cause of Inter’s issues either. In fact, Carlos Augusto contributed a crucial assist. It wasn’t the substitutes who faltered, but rather the core players who didn’t live up to their standards. Lautaro Martínez and Pavard received some of the lowest match ratings, with Mkhitaryan’s performance also falling short of expectations.

In essence, the argument is that while rotation is necessary, it’s the dip in form from the team’s top-tier players that has been the bigger problem. Inter’s key contributors have been unable to deliver the impact required in crucial moments, and this lack of form has been a major factor in their lackluster start to the season.

Beppe Bergomi: Rotation vs. Big Opponents

Another take comes from Inter legend Beppe Bergomi, who offers a different perspective. Bergomi, ever the pragmatist, believes that Inter’s squad rotation against Monza could have been avoided. He points out that in previous seasons, Inter would have fielded their strongest lineup for a match like this and then opted to rotate in the Champions League. But this year is different — Inter’s first Champions League match is against none other than Manchester City, the reigning European champions.

In the lead-up to the season, when some pundits were hyping Inter as one of the top contenders in the Champions League, right behind Real Madrid and Manchester City, Bergomi had already sounded a note of caution. He highlighted two significant structural issues that could hinder Inter’s ability to compete effectively across multiple fronts. The first issue is the aging nature of the squad, a fact that simply cannot be overlooked. The second is Inzaghi’s ongoing struggle with rotation. Despite leading Inter to the Champions League final last season, the team set an unwanted record for league losses under his tenure. Conversely, during the 2021-22 season, when Inter won their 19th Scudetto, their European campaign fell short of expectations.

In Bergomi’s view, the crux of the matter is whether Inzaghi can master the art of rotation. While he doesn’t advocate against rotation altogether, he does question whether it was wise to rest key players for Monza when Inter needed a win to maintain their early momentum. The implication is that had Inter fielded their strongest lineup, they might have secured the win and avoided the frustrations that now surround them.

The True Lesson: You Can’t Rest Both Calhanoglu and Barella

Among the various opinions, one perspective offers a more holistic understanding of the situation. Renowned Italian football pundit Biassin articulates a key tactical takeaway from the Monza match, one that highlights a pattern that has plagued Inter for the past few seasons. He astutely observes that Inter can afford to rotate one of their two midfield generals, Hakan Çalhanoğlu or Nicolò Barella, but never both simultaneously.

Çalhanoğlu and Barella, in their respective roles, are among the best midfielders in the world. Their influence on Inter’s play is profound, dictating the rhythm and tempo of the game while providing crucial transitions between defense and attack. When both are missing from the lineup, as was the case against Monza, Inter’s play becomes disjointed, lacking the fluidity and control that these two world-class players bring.

Biassin’s analysis is backed by a consistent trend. Last season, for example, Çalhanoğlu missed six Serie A matches. Inter managed to win five of those six games, dispelling any notion of a Çalhanoğlu dependency. The one match they lost, a 0-1 defeat to Sassuolo, was the only time when both Çalhanoğlu and Barella were missing, with the latter only appearing as a late substitute. When both players are absent, Inter’s midfield becomes a shadow of itself, and the team’s performance noticeably drops. The same pattern was observed in Champions League matches against the likes of Benfica, where Inter struggled without their midfield maestros.

The lesson is clear: Inter cannot afford to rotate both Çalhanoğlu and Barella at the same time. Even if the substitutes are capable and well-drilled, they simply don’t provide the same level of influence and control as the Turkish playmaker and the Italian dynamo. The dual-core principle, as this idea can be termed, is a tactical truth that Inzaghi must recognize and internalize moving forward.

A Season of Pressure

The draw against Monza, combined with Napoli's rise to the top of the table and AC Milan’s continued good form, has only increased the pressure on Inter. For a club with ambitions of contending for both the Serie A title and Champions League glory, the early season stumbles have put Inzaghi in a tricky position.

Despite this, the season is still in its infancy, and there’s plenty of time for Inzaghi and his squad to adjust and rebound. If anything, this early adversity could serve as a valuable learning experience. The lesson from the Monza match is especially clear: Inter’s rotation policy must be fine-tuned, with an emphasis on maintaining the presence of at least one of their midfield linchpins. The importance of both Çalhanoğlu and Barella to the team’s overall success cannot be overstated. By ensuring that one of the two is always on the pitch, Inter can avoid the midfield collapses that have cost them dearly in the past.

Inzaghi’s worst start to a season at Inter has provided some valuable insights. The road ahead may be challenging, but if the team can take these lessons to heart, they’ll be better equipped to navigate the trials that await in both Serie A and the Champions League.