Fabio Capello suggests tactics to Simone Inzaghi for Inter-Barcelona
Fabio Capello spoke to Gazzetta dello Sport on the day of Inter-Barcelona: “Nights of Champions, nights of real soccer. Tonight I expect San Siro in its full glory for 90′ (or maybe even 120’…) of pure adrenaline. Inter-Barcelona is an uncertain semifinal, as the 3-3 draw in the first leg confirmed to us, and made even more unpredictable by the very different playing styles of the two teams”.
“What to hope for? Above all, that Inzaghi’s boys interpret the match as they did in the Catalonia shoot-out more than in the first half. So with the right amount of courage that at Montjuic was seen especially in the second half. In this sense, Simone’s choice to bet again on Dimarco and not on Carlos Augusto is a signal: on that flank there is Lamine Yamal, but it does not change the match plan and they will try to hurt the blaugrana by not giving up the quality of the starting left-back, despite the fact that the former Monza player certainly did better defensively last week. Field changes from right to left and left to right with two arrows like Dumfries and Dimarco can be one of the keys to qualification”.
“In these hours leading up to the match, the infirmary is also playing a crucial role. Lautaro seems to be making it and it is a great boost to the whole environment. Because before being a great striker, Martinez is a true captain, with his spirit and unquestionable values. On the other side, Lewandowski will at least go to the bench. An equally important recovery, because certain balls that passed dangerously through the Inter area in Barcelona, with the Pole perhaps would have generated more goals: he has few rivals in the world under goal. The way I see it, in big matches it is always better for the two teams to show up with all their stars. But there is also the other side of the coin: a champion who is not at the top can sometimes become a problem rather than a solution. We will see how Lautaro and Lewa will be”.
“Beyond injuries (Inter will not have Pavard, Barça is without full-backs Koundé and Baldé), I believe that Inzaghi should demand more from his midfield and, in particular, from Calhanoglu. The Turk seemed to me to be the most struggling in the face of fierce pressure from the opponents. Calha, as well as Barella and Mkhitaryan, will have to put more quality, speed and courage into their plays, otherwise the risk is that the ball always comes back too quickly into the Catalans’ polite feet. And speaking of good feet, how can we not mention Lamine Yamal? It will be his first time at the San Siro, but don’t think his legs are shaking. The guy doesn’t really strike me as the type who gets the chop. On the contrary, between Europeans, Champions and challenges with Real Madrid he has already shown that he has the personality of a champion: the more important the event, the more he rises to the level. That is why I hope that, if the match is in the balance, Inter avoid closing in as they did in the last 20′ with Bayern: against Lamine it would be suicide”.
