Inter and Atalanta: goal Riyadh, but first Serie A. The strategies of Inzaghi and Gasperini

Andrea Elefante and Davide Stoppini

December 21st – 2.31pm – MILANO

Twelve days, because Christmas, Boxing Day and even New Year's Eve are fine. But Inzaghi and Gasperini are already looking to January 2nd. True, there are two more games each, a top of the championship to manage on one side, an asterisk if possible to amortize on the other, 6 points to take home to fill the Christmas tree with smiles. But the first trophy of the season is tantalizing. It almost seems like a championship appetizer, two students away from home in Riyadh who compete in a one-off race before a long sprint for the Italian championship. The Super Cup final is up for grabs: let's try to understand how the two coaches will manage the approach to the trip outside the continent.

the turnover

—

It's law this year at Inter, Inzaghi sends everyone to school (or home) in rotation this year. But thinking immediately, the needs are less stringent. Something is dictated by contingency: Barella, who we talk about elsewhere, will at best be on the bench with Como and will therefore return to Cagliari from the start. Going forward, Inzaghi will not ignore ThuLa. There could be a couple of possible rotations in Sardinia in defense and on the flanks. Inzaghi should certainly count on both Acerbi and Pavard again in Riyadh, but it remains to be demonstrated that the two will be able to play from the start. This is why De Vrij will have to be managed and with Cagliari he could leave room for the confirmation of Bisseck in the central area, while on the wing Carlos Augusto could give Dimarco a chance to catch his breath. But the most probable hypothesis, to date, is that energy management takes place during the race. Gasperini, unlike Inzaghi, has so far not made calculations in the name of turnover: only the minimum wage of alternations, those dictated by stringent reasons of expediency. And he will continue not to do so. The only rotations foreseen are those to be made during the match in progress, especially to make the most of the freshness of the attackers: with the help of the 5 substitutions, those used in an almost scientific way. Already against Empoli, and it will be the same then against Lazio and Inter, the best possible formation will play: tomorrow the freshest players will be in, because they were not used on Wednesday in the Italian Cup, but without giving up the other more reliable ones, even if on the pitch against Cesena. Carnesecchi, Kossounou, Bellanova, Kolasinac, Ederson and Lookman will meet again; but Gasp, who will recover Ruggeri, will choose the other five without conditions related to the expenditure of energy.

the immovable

—

Nobody is immovable in this Inter. But the duo of Thuram and Lautaro is the one that Inzaghi has never done without in Serie A, except when the Argentine (on two occasions) withdrew due to injury. And so it will also be on Monday against Como and then on the 28th in Cagliari. There is distance with the alternatives, at least at this time. Taremi is not showing a good feeling with the goal, Arnautovic remains in the balance despite the cup goal, Correa is on the rise but not to the point of threatening the two. Thuram is in a state of grace, in excellent psychophysical shape. Lautaro, on the other hand, is arguing with the door, but Inzaghi wants to have it unlocked: it is unthinkable, then, that he himself will remain outside. Not even Gasperini has any permanent players, but the minutes are faithful indicators of the players who are most difficult for him to give up. Beyond Carnesecchi, Hien and Kolasinac in defense, who however should be savored whenever possible. In midfield De Roon and Ederson, but also Pasalic, due to his possible position as an attacking midfielder. Lookman almost always plays in attack, but whether their use is from the start or in the running, even for Retegui and De Ketelaere it is almost unthinkable to watch an entire match from the bench.

The entire Enilive series A is only on DAZN. Watch all the matches

Christmas program

—

Inter will leave for Riyadh on 30 December, one day ahead of Atalanta. Before departure, two championship matches and five training sessions in Appiano, with three days of scheduled rest. It must be said that Inzaghi's agenda is not definitive. But there is the idea of ​​loosening up a bit. This is why there will be no pre-match training camp tomorrow before Como. This is why, unless there are changes, Lautaro and his teammates will pull the plug on both 24 and 25 December. At Atalanta, the coach does not see a tired team, on the contrary: therefore, before Lazio, he chose to grant only one day of rest, the 25th, plus half the previous and half the following day: a “signal” of invitation to stay closely tuned at work. For the 28th he plans to have Scalvini, at least on the bench, as well, for whom it has been decided not to rush his return tomorrow. Then three days of training and on the 31st the departure for Arabia, with another training session and finishing before the match against Inter.