Juventus Stumbles in Title Race: Inter Shifts Focus to Evaluating 13 Key Substitutes

Juventus’s recent struggles in Serie A have significantly altered the dynamics of the title race, redirecting attention towards Inter Milan's deep bench and their potential impact on the season's conclusion. Just under a month ago, on January 21, Juventus’s coach was celebrating overtaking Inter Milan, who had a game in hand. However, the landscape has shifted dramatically since then. Juventus now trails Inter by nine points, even though Inter still has that game in hand. This recent development has not gone unnoticed, with Gazzetta dello Sport headlining that Juventus has “disappeared” from the title contention.

Concurrently, Inter Milan's victory over Salernitana has sparked numerous discussions. Among the highlights was the performance of Denzel Dumfries, who, despite being relegated to a substitute role, showed signs of a resurgence. However, in preparation for their match against Atletico Madrid, coach Simone Inzaghi's training sessions indicated a preference for Matteo Darmian, a player whose reliability has been proven in matches against Juventus and Roma. Dumfries, much like Romelu Lukaku last season, finds himself in a difficult position. Even with impressive league performances, securing a spot in the team's “strongest eleven” remains a challenge. Some football market experts speculate that Lukaku's decision to leave Inter last summer was partly driven by his exclusion from the Champions League final starting lineup.

Juventus's Slip-up and Inter’s Capitalization

Juventus’s recent form has been nothing short of disappointing, accumulating just two points from their last four matches. This underwhelming performance has provided Inter with a margin for error. As analysts have predicted, with 14 matches remaining, Inter would only need to secure nine victories, or eight wins and a few draws, to clinch the championship. This relative safety net has allowed Inter to focus on utilizing their bench strength more effectively in the coming matches.

Inter’s Substitute Performances

Inter’s last 4-0 victory highlighted several key performances from their substitutes, bringing them into the limelight. Carlos Augusto's two assists in that game marked him as the first Inter defender to achieve such a feat since Yuto Nagatomo in 2011. Additionally, Kristjan Asllani’s precise long pass and Tajon Buchanan’s impressive debut, where he nearly won a penalty, showcased the depth and potential of Inter's bench. These promising performances from second-tier players are a welcome sight for the club.

Given Juventus’s faltering performance during this crucial phase of the title race, Inter now has the opportunity to give their less frequently used players more playing time. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, many of Inter's 13 substitutes are in uncertain situations regarding their future with the club. Their performances in the coming matches could be pivotal in determining their prospects, whether it’s securing a spot in the team or landing a new contract elsewhere. This will undoubtedly be a focal point for Inter as the season progresses.

Classification of Inter’s 13 Substitutes

The 13 substitutes at Inter Milan can be broadly categorized into three groups. The first group consists of players who are very likely to stay with the club. As the media puts it, these players “will stay unless something shocking happens.” This group includes Bisseck, Buchanan, Augusto, Frattesi, and De Vrij. Buchanan, having recently joined the team, has shown promise in his debut but needs more time to adjust to the system, particularly in terms of positioning and coordination. He requires more match experience and a complete pre-season training to fully integrate. The other four have delivered solid performances this season and are generally satisfied with their current roles. Considering that their main competitors, like Federico Dimarco, who has stamina issues, and Francesco Acerbi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who are aging, have certain limitations, retaining these players next season would be strategically significant for Inter.

The second group consists of players who are very likely to leave. These include Audero, Sensi, Cuadrado, Klaassen, and Sánchez. The buyout clause for reserve goalkeeper Audero is set at €6.5 million, a sum Inter is unlikely to activate, making it more probable that they will look for another backup goalkeeper. Stefano Sensi, who is currently out injured and expected to miss another month, is also unlikely to extend his contract. If it weren't for an unexpected turn of events during the winter transfer window, Sensi would already be playing in the English Championship. Juan Cuadrado, who has a 1+1 contract, is expected to return to training in March after recovering from surgery. Unless he delivers outstanding performances towards the end of the season, his contract’s extension option is unlikely to be activated. Klaassen also has a 1+1 contract and needs to impress significantly in the remaining matches to convince Inter to extend his stay. Alexis Sánchez signed a one-year contract upon his return to Inter, but with the club almost securing Mehdi Taremi on a free transfer as his replacement, Sánchez’s future at the club looks uncertain.

The third group includes players who may or may not stay with the team, depending on various factors. This group consists of Dumfries, Asllani, and Arnautović. The contract renewal issue for the Dutch wing-back has been extensively discussed. From a business perspective, if Dumfries insists on a pre-tax salary exceeding €10 million, selling him during the summer transfer window would be the logical course of action for Inter. However, Gazzetta dello Sport suggests that a transfer might not be the best solution for Dumfries. His agent, Rafaela Pimenta, might find it challenging to secure a higher salary for him at another club, as few European teams are willing to offer such high wages for a wing-back, even in the financially powerful Premier League. Therefore, it’s not out of the question that Dumfries’s agent might find herself in a situation similar to the one with De Vrij, where after exploring other options, they may realize that staying with Inter is the best choice.

Asllani has shown progress this season with 21 appearances, although his total playing time of 562 minutes is relatively low. Coach Inzaghi is keen to keep the Albanian international, but if the player seeks more playing time to develop his skills, Inter might facilitate a move for him. Sporting Director Piero Ausilio also has other plans for the defensive midfield position. Arnautović has recently shown signs of improvement, but his future largely depends on his own ambitions. If Taremi integrates well into the team next season, Arnautović could find himself as the fourth-choice striker. Whether the Austrian is willing to accept a lesser role remains to be seen, and if he seeks a transfer, Inter is unlikely to stand in his way and will explore other options.

The Future of Inter’s Bench Players

Gazzetta dello Sport’s report on the future of Inter's 13 substitutes provides a comprehensive overview of the club's strategy. With a significant lead in the title race, Inter’s bench players will likely see more playing time in the upcoming matches, offering them a chance to secure their futures. Their performances will be closely watched and could determine whether they stay with the club or move on to new opportunities. This focus on the substitutes adds an intriguing dimension to the remainder of the season, as Inter looks to solidify their lead and potentially clinch the championship.

In summary, Juventus's recent drop in form has not only given Inter a comfortable lead in the title race but also shifted the focus to evaluating the depth of their squad. With key players potentially on the move and new opportunities arising for others, the coming months will be critical for Inter's substitutes as they seek to make their mark and secure their futures, whether at Inter or elsewhere. The performances of these players will be a key storyline to follow as the season unfolds.