Stalwart Fills Inter Milan's 20-Year Void: A Winning Attitude More Valuable than 3 Goals and 1 Assist; Derby Strategy Unveiled

The common consensus in the world of football is clear: never underestimate a cornered Italy, except in World Cup qualifiers. Heading into their match against Ukraine, Italy found themselves in a dire situation. Following a chaotic coaching change, they had only garnered 4 points from their first 3 matches. They trailed England, who had 13 points from 5 matches, by 9 points and were 3 points behind Ukraine. Although Italy had a game in hand, a draw against North Macedonia followed by a loss to Ukraine would put their tournament hopes in serious jeopardy.

Italy faced this must-win match with a well-known problem: a lack of scoring prowess. What could they do? Luciano Spalletti made a bold decision, relying heavily on midfielders Davide Frattesi and Nicolò Barella as his secret weapons. This high-risk strategy paid off: Frattesi and Barella took a combined 6 shots, triple that of the two starting wingers, and created twice as many scoring chances, demonstrating both their activity and decisiveness. Frattesi scored twice, helping secure the victory. He also made 4 key passes, two of which were near-perfect assists. OPTA highlighted Frattesi's contributions, noting that he had a hand in four of Italy's last five goals (3 goals and 1 assist) and that he was the first Inter Milan player since Christian Vieri in 2003 to score twice in a single match for Italy.

Previously, coaches like Roberto Mancini, Simone Inzaghi, and Spalletti had all grappled with how to best utilize Frattesi and Barella together. Inzaghi's solution was to switch Barella to the left side, with Frattesi on the right. Spalletti took a more aggressive approach, pushing both players to attack while the wingers fell back to do the dirty work. These strategies have had mixed results. The advantage is that when both players are on the field, one often performs brilliantly because opponents focusing on one can neglect the other. The downside is that their simultaneous presence weakens the team's defense on the flanks, as seen in matches against Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands, as well as certain periods against PSG and in this match against Ukraine. Italy's defense on the flanks was frequently breached, and if Ukraine had capitalized better on their final passes and shots, Italy would not have conceded just one goal.

Spalletti anticipated this issue and instructed wingers Nicolò Zaniolo, Mattia Zaccagni, and substitute Wilfried Gnonto to help out defensively. However, due to their styles and execution, the results were less than ideal. Tacticians suggest that deploying both Frattesi and Barella simultaneously leads to an attack-focused but defensively weak setup. This can be effective against weaker teams where three points are essential, but its viability against stronger opponents remains uncertain.

After Frattesi's brace, Inter Milan fans on social media expressed both joy and concern. The Italian media lavished praise on Frattesi, which was expected. However, the habit of praising one player often leads to the criticism of another. Thus, Inzaghi faced backlash: "What a waste to keep such a talented player like Frattesi on the bench!"

Frattesi, in excellent form, naturally wants to secure a starting position at Inter. Yet, if media hype leads to impatience or pressure on the coach, it could be detrimental. Fortunately, Frattesi demonstrated maturity after his double, saying, "Creating trouble for the coach? It's normal for the coach to make specific choices. I have a lot to improve, and I'm not at the same level as the starters yet. This understanding helps me grow."

Such a level-headed attitude is more valuable than his goals and assists. The issue of Barella and Frattesi's coexistence weakening team defense is real. However, sidelining a player in such good form would be a waste. How will Inter use him in the Milan Derby?

Italian media recently sought the opinions of experts like Fabio Capello and Beppe Bergomi on derby tactics. They unanimously suggested that Frattesi might not start but could become a decisive figure. The focus in midfield during the derby would be on Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who, besides his usual duties, would be tasked with pressing AC Milan's holding midfielder to disrupt their play. This added responsibility could exhaust Mkhitaryan quickly, effectively "booking" a substitution. Using Mkhitaryan to the fullest before substituting him with Frattesi to finish the game seems a natural choice.

Frattesi's current form and positive attitude are indeed beneficial. Inter's strategy in the derby could see Mkhitaryan starting to tire out AC Milan before bringing on Frattesi to capitalize on the situation. Whether he can handle this responsibility remains to be seen, but his performance so far suggests he is up for the challenge.