Simone Inzaghi deserves more recognition for what his Inter side have done this season and his ability to adapt players to new roles.
Inzaghi has turned Hakan Çalhanoglu, who has played as a number 10 previously, into a Deep-Lying Playmaker, where the Turk has excelled and kept Marcelo Brozović out of the starting XI.
Çalhanoglu has the most assists for Inter in Serie A this season (6).
Matteo Darmian has also been one of Inter’s most consistent players this season.
The Italian has played in a Centre Back/Right Back hybrid position.
In previous seasons Darmian exclusively played as a more traditional fullback.
Such has been Darmian’s success in this new position, he is now keeping centre back pair, Milan Skriniar and Stefan de Vrij out of the team.
Inzaghi also made the mid-season decision to drop club legend, Samir Handanovic, from the side.
This proved an excellent call as Andre Onana has been brilliant as Inter’s first choice goalkeeper.
Following Inter’s 2–0 win over Milan in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final, Inzaghi’s side are on the verge of qualifying for the final for the first time since 2010.
Inter will also play their first Coppa Italia final since 2011 when they face Fiorentina in 2 weeks.
Mostly interestingly though has been Inter’s form in the league this season.
According to UnderStat, Inter are leading Serie A in the Expected Points metric.
Inter have an xPTS of 71.38 which is marginally higher than Napoli’s xPTS of 71.36
Inter have conceded 5 more goals than what was to be expected and have underscored their xG by 4 goals.
With better finishing from Inter this Serie A title race may have been closer than what it was.
There were rumours that Inzaghi may have been facing the sack recently as Inter went on a 6 match league winless streak from late February to mid April.
But Inzaghi and Inter have got back on track with recent wins over Juventus, Lazio, Roma, and Milan.
They now looked poised to at least win 1 trophy and consolidate a top 4 position this season.
