Inter 0-1 Milan: Early Ibrahimovic penalty followed by poor response from Inter
INTER: 12 Castellazzi; 2 Cordoba, 6 Lucio, 23 Materazzi, 26 Chivu; 4 Zanetti, 5 Stankovic, 20 Obi; 10 Sneijder, 9 Eto'o, 22 Milito. MILAN: 32 Abbiati, 20 Abate, 13 Nesta, 33 Silva, 19 Zambrotta, 8 Gattuso, 23 Ambrosini, 16 Flamini, 10 Seedorf, 70 Robinho, 11 Ibrahimovic. Usual diagrams back in a matter of days...
Milan were fairly comfortable despite playing with ten men for the final half hour.
Rafael Benitez chose a 4-3-1-2 formation to accommodate both Samuel Eto’o and Diego Milito upfront. Maicon was out, so Ivan Cordoba played at right-back, with Marco Materazzi in the centre. Joel Obi started on the left side of the midfield three, with Esteban Cambiasso only fit enough for the bench.
Max Allegri left out Andrea Pirlo to go with a functional, disciplined midfield three, with Clarence Seedorf ahead. Ignazio Abate started at right-back so Gianluca Zambrotta played on the left. Robinho was just off Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The match started with Milan well on top, taking the game to Inter and having numerous goalscoring chances in the first fifteen minutes. Their tempo was better, they got the ball forward much quicker and they brought their forwards into play much more easily, and the only disappointment from Allegri’s point of view was that Milan were only one goal up early on, when their dominance perhaps merited a more comfortable lead.
Ibrahimovic key
The main man in the first half was Ibrahimovic, as Inter utterly failed to cope with the Swede’s all-round game. Not only was he winning the ball in the air ahead of Materazzi, his sheer speed was constantly sending him clear of the defence. The penalty came from this situation – Ibrahimovic outpaced Materazzi before being hacked down by him, and Ibrahimovic converted the spot kick himself.
It’s strange that Inter were so vulnerable to Ibrahimovic’s pace in behind – it’s been a very common tactic for Milan to simply knock the ball over the top of the defence and use his pace – his goal against Ajax, for example, was scored in this exact fashion. It’s also a remarkable contrast from last season’s Champions League semi-final legs, when Ibrahimovic was kept very quiet by the Inter backline. The main difference, of course, was the positioning of the defence – playing a ludicrously high line, but Inter are not particularly good at pressing in midfield either (under Jose Mourinho and now Benitez they generally sit deep) and even in the absence of Pirlo, Milan enjoyed having time on the ball in midfield to hit balls over the top.
Full-backs
As with all 4-3-1-2 v 4-3-1-2 battles, the key to the game were the full-backs – without a direct opponent, and with a responsibility to provide width high up the pitch. There was a clear difference in the type of player the two sides played here – Milan with two players who are ‘wingers-turned-full-backs’, Inter with two players who are ‘centre-backs-turned-full-backs’.
Naturally, Milan’s were much better at getting forward. Abate had produced the first chance of the game when his cross was headed over by Seedorf, but later was pegged back by Eto’o (and Wesley Sneijer’s) drifts to that flank. Zambrotta still got forward to good effect, however, creating an extra midfield and a passing option on the flank.
There was little or no attacking presence from Inter’s full-backs, however, with Cristian Chivu’s delivery typically disappointing, and (aside from one sudden 60-yard dash down the flank) nothing from Cordoba. Hardly surprising, Cordoba is a 34-year-old centre-back. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Italian international full-back Davide Santon, renowned for his energetic runs, spent the game on the bench.
The situation was particularly poor given how often Milan have been prone to the runs of the full-backs in recent weeks – note the 2-0 defeat to Cesena or the 2-0 loss in Madrid.
Inter changes
After Obi's injury, Inter moved to 4-2-3-1 for the rest of the game. Here, the line-up directly after the first substitution, Eto'o moves to the left and Coutinho (29) comes in on the right
In a sense, the injury to Obi towards the end of the first half was the best thing that could have happened to Inter. Obi in particular was not having a bad game, but Inter desperately needed a change of shape. After seeming ready to put on Cambiasso, Benitez instead went for Phillipe Countinho, moving to 4-2-3-1. And, whilst Inter didn’t display much more creativity, they were playing higher up the pitch and pinning the Milan full-backs back.
A further change came at half-time when Milito was removed, Goran Pandev came on, and Eto’o went back upfront. He actually looked less threatening here – he’d caused problems for Abate (on a yellow card) on the left in the first half, but spent his time here upfront waiting for service.
Milan down to ten
Inter’s lifeline came when Abate did receive another booking after a shoving match with Pandev. Now, Milan were down to ten and were content to defend. They went to 4-4-1, taking off Robinho and bringing on Kevin-Prince Boateng. The addition of Andrea Pirlo (for the cautioned Gattuso at half-time) also worked well here – he played slightly ahead of the rest of the Milan midfield and casually pressed Inter’s deeper midfielders, denying them time on the ball.
An injury to Materazzi again saw Benitez confusion – this time he was ready to bring on Santon, but instead opted for Jonathan Biabiany, moving Zanetti to right-back and Sneijder back into a deeper role.
Despite (or maybe because of) all the reshuffling, there was no creativity from Inter. Coutinho and Biabiany are young and found it difficult to adjust to the pace of the derby after coming on, but Eto’o’s movement was poor, Pandev looks very off-form and Sneijder produced little. Pandev and Sneijder should be goal threats but their recent records in Serie A are unbelievably poor – Sneijder has scored one goal in open play in the league since joining Inter, whilst Pandev hasn’t found the net since February 7th.
Inter’s performance was best summed up by President Massimo Moratti – “It doesn’t seem to me like we suffered against Milan’s play. The problem is that we actually didn’t play. It’s a different thing entirely and much more grave.”
Conclusion
Milan played well for only 20 minutes, but this was enough to get them the win. A combination of excellent defending in numbers and a lack of imagination from Inter’s attacking players meant Milan were comfortable, even with one fewer player.
Inter looked lack any kind of cohesion in their shape, the first time Benitez has used a 4-3-1-2. It was a system used a lot by Mourinho last season, but the right players were not used here – the weakness at full-back was particularly evident. A high defensive line kept catching them out early on, whilst in possession they didn’t get the ball forward quickly enough. With just five goals scored in the last eight games, there is now serious pressure on Benitez.
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Inter under Mourinho could press well too. I remembered the Inter vs Barca game at San Siro, Inter came flying out of the blocks and stunned Barca, and they were pressing the Pique and Puyol and Valdez for the whole game and even late in the 80+ mins. Not sure why they’re not as good now though.
Inter under Mourinho is much better than Inter under Moutinho.
Inter was awful. It looks like Sneijder is out of form, too and this could be one of the main reasons for Inter’s bad form.
Sneijder, AND Maicon (now out), AND Milito (always injured), and Cambiasso, and Julio Cesar, and Thiago Motta, and Pandev (terrible), and…
I am astonished that Sneijder was playing. I thought he is ill, some kind of being tired or anaemia.
He is anaemic, and was supposed to have a long rest. Apparently these days “long rest” means 6 days.
Don’t underestimate the importance of Walter Samuel for Inter’s defence, without him it will be a very different team (Materazzi and Cordoba, or even Chivu as central defender, can’t be compared with him.)
Cambiasso instead would make the difference in terms of the team’s ability to press high and recover the ball.
I’m a big Samuel fan (even though my stomach still turns at the memory of when Kaka turned him inside-out so badly that the poor Argentine popped a knee ligament), but Cordoba can play CB quite well. RB, on the other hand… maybe not so much.
It is time to send Rafael Benitez to MLS. He is tearing down one team after another. First Liverpool, now Inter. On the other hand, why on earth did Inter sign this guy ??
Any comments ZM?
Cheers.
Because he’s one of the best.
one of the best at what? man-management? lucid press conferences? building up a great squad of players? oh and of course comeback-inspiring team talks like the one against milan, which of course had nothing to do with the opposition being pissed on half-time champagne
benitez gets his tactical knowledge from a love of chess. maybe he’ll soon have a chance to spend longer at the chessboard, away from competition which involves the positioning of people as opposed to that of mere inanimate pieces
maybe he needs to brush up on his chess – after all, as they say, a knight on the rim (cordoba at full-back) is grim
I am baffled by Benitez in general. the latest example, from this game:
“As with all 4-3-1-2 v 4-3-1-2 battles, the key to the game were the full-backs… There was a clear difference in the type of player the two sides played here – Milan with two players who are ‘wingers-turned-full-backs’, Inter with two players who are ‘centre-backs-turned-full-backs’… Cordoba is a 34-year-old centre-back. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Italian international full-back Davide Santon, renowned for his energetic runs, spent the game on the bench.”
What could Benitez possibly have been thinking? Admittedly he has a lot of injuries. He also had Zanetti, who has played quite well at fullback over his illustrious career and also functions in the midfield, obviously a more attacking option than Cordoba. An while I’ve never seen him tear it up at fullback, I’ve seen Chivu play defensive midfield decently. so I’d have set up shop with a 4213
Santon, Cordoba, Lucio, Zanetti;
Chivu, Stankovic;
Sneijder;
Eto’o , Milito, Pandev
against this milan team, having Eto’o and Pandev wide and high up the pitch could have prevented Abate and Zambrotta from getting forward or punished them if they did so. Given the importance of fullbacks to 4312’s width, that should have completely stifled Milan if it worked.
exactly right, it’s baffling why he didn’t do this. maybe he thought robinho or ronaldinho would play wide left and he felt santon would be exposed, but the more obvious threat was ibrahimovic in behind and yet he goes with a high defensive line and materazzi at centre back!
you mean Zanetti, the 37 year old, should have been played as a fullback? The position that involves running up to attack and hurtling back to defend. Nice one.
Inter seemed to focus all their attacks down their left-hand side, especially in the first half. I can’t remember anything going down the right
Now I wonder how the hell the-I-can’t-do-anything-manager could have won the Spanish league with Valencia
I think the Valencia team was great. Marseille had no chance in the UEFA Cup final (Olympique were playing a very defensive style in the first half and were one man down in the second). Benitez was a few years ahead with his football back then. But it’s nearly ten years ago and I don’t know how much he developed his football since then.
by the inheritance of players with fantastic potential, and by competing with real madrid and barca teams who were much better equipped to win a european trophy than a league title.
maybe he was a better manager then than he is now, and the success he had went to his head, adebayor style
yeah but in Spain, it’s the sporting director who is in charge of signings. so in some sense, every manager (even Guardiola and Mourinho) just works with the players they “inherit”. I think it’s still a good point, in the sense that one of Rafa’s weaknesses is doing transfer business, so that could have contributed to his problems at Liverpool.
sure, spanish ‘coaches’ never have a word to say about signings and in England Alex Ferguson drives around the country, Europe, Mexico, South America, or Asia and looks for players.
of course a manager in Spain has something to say about the signings and of course a manager in England has people doing the work in the transfer market.
if they don’t work as a team, or if one of them is an idiot (a sporting director who knows nothing about players) the whole thing does not work. Or has Liverpool done a genius signing this summer, after Benitez left?
I don’t say that Benitez makes good signings. I just say that it depends on the people working in the managment in over 95% of the clubs (call it sporting director, scout, what ever).
Dear ZM,
Great review, as always.
You said: Eto’o “actually looked less threatening here (at center forward) – he’d caused problems for Abate (on a yellow card) on the left in the first half, but spent his time here upfront waiting for service.”
I think the reason for this was Thiago Silva doing a great job on Eto’o. He closely marshalled him when he switched to center forward, eliminating the Eto’o threat (which has been one of the very few positives for Inter this season). Add to this the overall impeccable game by the Milan centreback duo, and Milan were able to see this game off without giving up any clear chances to Inter, even though playing the last half hour with ten men.
To me, removing Milito to move Eto’o was not a tactical move. It was merely Benitez’s wishful thinking that Eto’o would somehow find a goal, just as he managed to for couple games this season. It is a clear indication that Benitez was out of ideas.
A logical move was to leave Eto’o against Abate, who was on a yellow and quite likely to get a red eventually as Eto’o ran at him. Subbing Santon in for Cordoba would have created some threat down the right side. The only good sub Benitez made was Coutinho for Obi. Inter (somewhat) turned the game around after the sub and it was strange to see Benitez not keeping that line up at start of second half.
Like I predicted, in Italy the two-forward formation has already come back to prominence. Just look at the formations in all the recent matches you reviewed. It’s just a matter of time and this will happen in the rest of Europe.
Not a bad game… AC played fairly well (particularly the backline and defending as a unit) though their attack looks fragmented with a lack of cohesion. As the game progressed – before the sending off – the same problem occurred in AC, the gap between the midfielders and forwards were too wide.
Inter lost before the game even started. As soon as I saw the “ambassador” (TV commentator) Materazzi start for Inter, I knew it would be over. Eto’o and Milito starting in a game of such importance? A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush.
Lastly, can anyone explain to me what Joel Obi and Nwankwo Obiora offer? Why isn’t McDonald Mariga getting more consideration?
mcdonal mariga is injured at the moment
Excellent analysis of what Benitez got wrong, ZM.
It was quite a lot, actually, wasn’t it?
Milan still rely to much on Zlatan. The only offensive weapons was long balls to Zlatan, even though Seedorf played faily well the the first 20 minutes to link up midfield and forwards. Allegri was about to sub Abate for Antonini and Robinho for Ronaldinho, but instead reversed to 4-4-1 and parked the bus.
@ZM what did you think about the substitution of Gatusso in the half time, wasn’t that a bit of a gamble since both he and Abate had a yellow after just 30 min?
Cannot believe how many mistakes Benitez is making, the mistakes in both matches vs Tottenham were shocking, they were dreadful today. Unless his free-flowing, fluid style of play quickly picks up, people are going to be comparing him to Mourinho, which is unfair as Benitez plays a more attractive, more player-friendly style, it just needs time to settle in.
What you mean “Benitez plays a more attractive, more player-friendly style” ?!
The Madrid of Mourinho (and Porto at times) plays(/ed) quite attractive football.
There were hardly 2 Mourinho teams that played the same. The playing style was always relative to the players, the country and the characteristics of the opposition.
Mourinho is adaptable, pragmatic, realistic, Benitez is a zealous dogmatic who’s “15 minutes of fame” are over.
To rawr, I don’t know if you saw the game or are commenting from the analysis but the Abate red card incident was not because Eto’o was running at him and rather Abate becoming involved (in the words of ZM) in a shoving match with Pandev, who saw to it that Abate was instigated.
I think that Abate, until his red, and the whole Milan defence in general had a good game against Eto’o by restricting him to no shots on goal (not sure of this statistic but it seemed like it), perhaps underlining the lack of service to him.
This season opposing teams seem to be employing the same counter-attacking tactics used by inter last season to great effect against Inter’s high defensive line. They are sitting super deep, pressing hard and breaking quickly. If Andrea Caracciolo could throw the backline into disarray, how much more could Ibrahimovic?
I find Rafa’s tactics and decisions questionable – 37 year old Materazzi starting, moving Sneijder to the CM position halfway, playing chivu at left back when his best position is CB and when zanetti is one of the best defensive LBs in europe, and finally his clear lack of faith in milito and santon. I don’t know what kind of increased fluidity Rafa thinks he can get out of this team but the quartet of milito, maicon, sneijder and etoo produced some quite sensational, even bordering on telepathic football last season and now they play like they don’t know each other.
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