Inter injury crisis may force Inzaghi to change system in Champions League

Federico Dimarco’s latest injury means Simone Inzaghi will have just one wing-back available against Feyenoord on Wednesday, which could force the Nerazzurri coach to pick a four-man defence for the first time in eight years.

Dimarco suffered a muscle injury against Napoli on Saturday. 

The Italian defender underwent medical tests on Monday, and results suggested the Nerazzurri star would remain out of action for at least three weeks.

It’s terrible news for Inzaghi as the Nerazzurri boss was already forced to cope without three other wing-backs: Nicola Zalewski, Matteo Darmian and Carlos Augusto.

Inter injury crisis may force Inzaghi to change system in Champions League

According to Sky Sport Italia, Zalewski, Darmian, and Dimarco are unlikely to return to action before the international break in March, while Carlos Augusto is expected to return for the next Serie A game against Monza or next week’s Champions League Round of 16 return leg against Feyenoord at San Siro.

The Nerazzurri will visit the Dutch side in the first-leg tie on Wednesday, and Inzaghi’s selection crisis on the flanks may force the Inter coach to change systems in the Netherlands.

As reported by Gazzetta, Inzaghi could deploy a four-man defence with Alessandro Bastoni and Benjamin Pavard as the full-backs.

With a 4-4-2 formation, Denzel Dumfries would be the right midfielder, while Nicolò Barella or Henrikh Mkhitaryan would be forced to adapt to the left midfielder role, a position they already covered in the second half against Napoli on Saturday.

Gazzetta reports that Inzaghi hasn’t started a game with a four-man defence since April 2017, when he was still in charge of Lazio.

If Inter stick to a three-man defence against Feyenoord, Benjamin Pavard would likely play as a right wing-back with Dumfries deployed on the opposite flank and Yann Bisseck joining Stefan de Vrij and Bastoni in central defence.

Inter Primavera left-back Matteo Cocchi is expected to travel with the first team to the Netherlands. The 18-year-old has four goals and four assists in 25 Primavera appearances this season but hasn’t yet made his senior debut.