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Inter Milan and Roma failed to relieve the pressure on their respective managers after playing out a 0-0 draw at the San Siro last weekend.
After going down to a shock defeat to Trabzonspor in the Champions League in midweek, the pressure on Inter manager Gian Piero Gasperini was immense and this was reflected in the media as well, as the Italian daily la stampa came up with the probable names for his replacement suggesting that the end could be near.
On the other hand, Roma’s board had given public backing to Luis Enrique, but he too was feeling the heat as he came out and said; “If the club believes I’m not the right person then it’s enough to say so, I’m not attached to the seat, I know how FITBA works.”
And as if this wasn’t enough, the whole pre-match build was also surrounded by the clash of the tactics from the two managers, with Gian Piero Gasperini’s tactics so far coming under particular scrutiny.
Here are some of the things that came out of the match:
1. Tactics merry-go round continues
Inter played the 3-4-3 formation in the midweek, but Gian Piero Gasperini went with a rather modified version of this system and looked like 3-4-1-2, still the three man defence, mind you. This change in shape allowed both Wesley Sneijder and Diego Forlan to play in their desired central roles. Whilst Snejider was again in the centre of the midfield, the fact that he was starting from a deeper role meant that he couldn’t have the desired effect as Roma nullified the Inter team as an attacking force.
While Roma themselves were not at their fluent best, it does seem that they are in a better condition to adapt to the 4-3-3 system that Luis Enrique wants them to play in, as they looked far more comfortable on the pitch than Inter were at any point during the game.
2. Inter’s slow defence
Every time Roma ran at the Inter defence they looked vulnerable, meaning Inter ploy’s to play deep would have come badly unstuck had Roma being a little bold, which was clearly showcased whenever David Pizzaro made a run from the midfield. All the three men at the back- Lucio, Walter Samuel and Andrea Ranocchia, do not possess any real place which mean that playing a slightly higher line is not possible, so are required to play a much deeper defensive line than usual, thus making it very difficult to play the 3-4-3 system in its entirety.
3. Gasperini too rigid in tactics
Gian Piero Gasperini has been a staunch believer in his system and tactics, but at times it pays to see the game in its most simplest of forms, particularly in times of need. Gasperini, however, decided to look the other way as he introduced Sulley Muntari in place of Diego Forlan at the end in a bid to maintain his shape (going 3-5-2), much to the amusement of an average fan with the game still goalless. He left a recognized forward, Giampaolo Pazzini, on the bench, who must be wondering what it will take to get a game. So, it must have been a very unpleasant site for the Nerazzurri faithful to see Muntari as the player in the box at the end of forward passes late on instead of Pazzini.
4. Too much reliance on Francesco Totti
It looked like AS Roma were too dependent on Francesco Totti for creativity in the match. The Roma talisman, who played in the trequartista role behind the former Chelsea boy Fabio Borini and Osvaldo, was marvelously handled by Esteban Cambiasso throughout the game. It could be believed that Miralem Pjanic would have been expected to provide the creativity from midfield, but with Inter’s four men in the middle including the brilliant Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso, there was hardly any space for the Pjanic as he remained a peripheral figure during the game. So with limited help, the burden fell on the shoulders of Totti as he came deeper time and again to initiate the attacks. Luis Enrique must be looking at Daniel de Rossi in the future to play a more advanced role than what he did on the night despite having an impeccable game.
5. Sneijder remains as important as ever
If it wasn’t obvious enough, this game brought to fore the importance of Wesley Sneijder to this Inter line-up. The only time Inter looked threatening was when Sneijder was involved. The four in the middle of the park would hardly scare anybody, with only Nagatomo putting in a decent shift on the right flank in terms of attacking threat, and lack any guile or creativity to assist the front three. And so it was no surprise that it was him only who had a chance to win it at the end, despite Inter not being the better side in the game, when his shot was cleared off the line by Simon Kjaer in the dying moments of the game. Therefore, looking at the future, it’s essential for Inter that he remains fit throughout the season.
In the end, the 0-0 score line was a fair result in what was otherwise a dire game of football which was more dominated by fear than tactics.
For Gasperini it looks like a case of trying to change too much too soon, much like Rafa Benitez at Inter last year, so one must hope that he does not suffer the same fate and starts to get results soon, which are the only thing that would help him in getting the time that he badly needs.
Both Roma and Inter have to be patient and give their new managers a chance to settle in. Otherwise it could be a long hard season.
