Inter Falter In Their Champions League Start
Inter became the only Italian team to begin this season’s Champions League campaign without a win. They picked up an identical result to last season’s opener albeit against tougher opponents in German side Borussia Monchengladbach. A result made possible only due to individual errors again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2EqOS_ZiCk
Balance Of Play
The German side produced a throwback German performance,
efficient and tight in defence. There were glimpses of what they could produce
going forward but had no shots on target in the first half. We had most of the
possession and more attempts on goal but the closest we came to scoring was a
shot by Romelu Lukaku which dragged wide. After we took the lead, the German
team produced a spirited response but two individual errors saw them overturn
the game. Before Monchengladbach took the lead, Inter were unlucky when Lautaro
Martinez’s shot crashed off the post. A late equaliser gave the impression that
we got out of jail and should feel lucky to get a point from this game. This
result would have to be seen as two points dropped as we didn’t make most of
the dominance we had in the game. Once again, individual mistakes have cost us
a game.
Veterans
Arturo Vidal was a player that was much sought after by
Antonio Conte. His performances so far have been vindicated. He played well this
morning until he gave away a needless penalty for Monchengladbach’s equaliser
and first shot on target. For Monchengladbach’s second goal, he stood like a
statue hoping to catch the runner offside. It was an error of judgement on his
part as Jonas Hofmann was onside and gave them the lead with six minutes left. Aleksandar
Kolarov who has been guilty of making mistakes since he joined us produced his
best performance since joining us.
Conte ranted last season after Inter’s collapse against
Borussia Dortmund of the lack of experience in the team. He got his experienced
signings this season and they should be helping the team see out games but in
two consecutive matches, these players have been guilty of making costly errors.
COVID-19 Absentees
Inter suffered a blow pre-game when Achraf Hakimi tested
positive for COVID-19. He joined Roberto Gagliardini, Ashley Young, Ionat Radu
and Milan Skriniar on the list of absentees due to the virus. Alessandro Bastoni
and Radja Nainggolan had recovered but neither was fit enough to start the
game. Bastoni came off the bench while Nainggolan was an unused substitute. The
team’s much-vaunted squad depth will be tested now. Since the first onset of
COVID-19 cases in the team, we have lost once and drawn once in two matches.
The team would need to display resilience and character as well to overcome
this inconvenience and not let it affect the results.
Squad Depth
Alexis Sanchez started the game as Martinez was rested but
he produced a below-par performance. He was brought off at half-time due to an
injury. Christian Eriksen had a very good performance and I didn’t feel he
should have been brought off. Vidal looked tired and his errors could be
attributed to his fatigue. Nicolo Barella was another that produced a below-par
performance possibly due to fatigue. Marcelo Brozovic was on the bench as he
was fatigued. Stefano Sensi was missing again through injury. If Nainggolan was
fit enough to go on the bench, he should have been brought on to replace Vidal.
All of a sudden now, the squad depth seems thin.
Darmian
Matteo Darmian benefitted from Hakimi’s absence and he didn’t
let the team down. He produced a very good debut performance in the attacking
and defensive phases. Based on his performance, it looks like we are covered on
the right-wing back position while Hakimi recovers.
Conte Criticism
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