Key Players Underperforming & Constant Injury Woes – Three Factors Dragging Down Inter Milan Serie A Season | OneFootball

The inconsistent form of Hakan Calhanoglu, lack of attacking depth, and injuries are all dragging down Inter Milan in Serie A.

This is the diagnosis in today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews.

Inter’s season is just not quite going according to plan in Serie A.

It has hardly been an unmitigated disaster for the Nerazzurri. They are still just three points behind Napoli at the top of the Serie A table.

But there remains a sense that Inter have not been the dominant force that they are capable of being on paper. The one that they were last season.

Slip-ups are inevitable over a long, gruelling league campaign.

But Inter have had a few too many. Whether it has been taking just a point from two derby clashes with AC Milan, squandering a two-goal lead to draw 4-4 with Juventus, or crashing to a 3-0 defeat away to Fiorentina.

Calhanoglu, Attack & Injuries – Three Factors Dragging Down Inter Milan

In the view of the Corriere, there are three particular issues that have plagued Inter this season in Serie A.

Firstly, there is the availability and form of midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu.

MILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 12: Hakan Calhanoglu of FC Internazionale warms up prior to the UEFA Champions League match between FC Internazionale and Real Sociedad at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on December 12, 2023 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Arguably, no single player is as important to Inter as Calhanoglu. Last season, he was in imperious form at the base of the Nerazzurri midfield in Serie A.

But this season, Calhanoglu has had a few lingering muscle injuries.

These have ruled the Turkish international out of some matches. And as was the case in recent clashes with Milan and Fiorentina, even when starting Calhanoglu has sometimes looked off the pace.

That certainly goes some way towards explaining why Inter haven’t produced their best football on a consistent basis.

Then, the Corriere argue, there is a lack of attacking depth for Inter to contend with.

There is no doubt about the suitability of Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram in attack. But the three options behind them – Mehdi Taremi, Marko Arnautovic, and Joaquin Correa haven’t been adequate in the view of the Corriere.

Lastly, the Corriere notes, there have been a sequence of muscle injuries that Inter have suffered.

Nearly every Inter player has been on the sidelines at one time or another. Even if just for a couple weeks.

That has had knock-on effects on the entire team. In defense, particularly, there has been a lot of strain on Alessandro Bastoni and Stefan de Vrij due to injuries to Francesco Acerbi and Benjamin Pavard.