Inter Milan’s Options to Replace Acerbi: Popular Choice Faces Challenges

During international breaks, news about Inter Milan tends to be of limited value. As an Italian journalist lamented, it’s often recycled reports about transfer rumors with little substance, potential changes in ownership, or new stadium developments. These topics hardly pique interest. However, this time there’s something new: the Acerbi controversy.

Italian media is currently awash with reports about this controversy, with some claiming Inter is unhappy with Acerbi’s attitude, and others suggesting serious internal divisions among the club’s management. With a hearing scheduled for Friday, it’s best to take these reports with a grain of salt. A prominent lawyer has pointed out that Acerbi’s punishment cannot be substantiated solely based on Juan Jesus’s claims without reliable witnesses or audio-visual evidence. However, in the West, where political correctness often outweighs everything else, the principle of "innocent until proven guilty" doesn’t always apply to such issues. There have been previous instances where players were punished despite insufficient evidence.

Inter must be prepared for the possibility of Acerbi being suspended due to "ambiguous evidence." According to a reporter from Sky Sports, Inter’s coaching staff has indeed prepared two plans to cope with Acerbi’s potential suspension. After the news of a possible suspension broke, many Italian tacticians suggested it could be a good thing. If Acerbi is not suspended, coach Simone Inzaghi would be reluctant to rest this key player, leaving Inter without the motivation to test other options for the sweeper position. In the long run, this isn’t ideal. The sweeper’s role is crucial in the team, as mistakes in this position are hard to rectify by others. Therefore, experimenting and rehearsing with new players in this position might lead to some lost points. Currently, Inter leads the league by 14 points, offering a considerable margin for error, making it the perfect time to experiment for the future. Missing this opportunity and relying on a 36-37-year-old Acerbi to carry the team through almost 80 matches for both club and country next season could result in costly mistakes.

Potential Replacements for Acerbi

The most anticipated solution by the public is to try Benjamin Pavard or Denzel Dumfries in the central sweeper role. However, according to the reporter from Sky Sports, these options are not prioritized by Inter’s coaching staff. Instead, the staff favors two other plans.

Option 1: Stefan de Vrij Steps In

De Vrij was originally slated as the backup for the sweeper position. This season, he has played 29 matches across all competitions, totaling 1,895 minutes. During this period, Inter has conceded only 11 goals, averaging one goal every 172 minutes. This is an impressive statistic, even slightly better than Acerbi’s (18 goals conceded in 2,571 minutes). With such a reliable backup defender, Inter can feel more secure.

Option 2: Alessandro Bastoni Moves to the Center

Under Simone Inzaghi, Bastoni has previously performed adequately as a central defender. However, last season it was challenging to move Bastoni from his left center-back position due to Inzaghi’s 3-5-2 system, which required the wide center-backs to push forward, support attacks, and enhance ball-handling capabilities. Bastoni excelled in these aspects. This season, with Pavard and Dumfries replacing the less proficient ball-handler from PSG, Inter has improved in this area, making it feasible to “free up” Bastoni for a central role.

Italian tacticians have also pointed out that Bastoni’s weakest attributes are endurance and stamina. Playing as a wide center-back, which requires more frequent and longer runs, he struggles to maintain high intensity for 90 minutes, especially in crucial matches like derbies and Champions League games. Moving to a central position might help him play to his strengths and mitigate his weaknesses. This switch could also benefit his international career. If Bastoni moves to the center, Augusto would be entrusted with greater responsibilities. This season, Augusto has been a lucky charm for Inter, appearing in 37 matches across all competitions for a total of 1,822 minutes. During this time, Inter has conceded only nine goals, averaging one goal every 202.4 minutes. This statistic is better than Pavard (13 goals in 1,823 minutes), Dumfries (6 goals in 896 minutes), and Matteo Darmian (18 goals in 2,643 minutes).

When Inter signed Augusto, fans generally saw him as an offensive reinforcement due to his impressive attacking stats from his time at Monza. However, his greatest value has proven to be his versatility and defensive capabilities. With Tajon Buchanan moving to the left wing, Inter can afford to use the Brazilian more as a center-back.

The Bigger Challenge: Managing Inter’s Image

In summary, Inter is not particularly afraid of Acerbi’s potential suspension. The greater challenge in dealing with this controversy is not on the pitch but in managing the club’s image and handling the moral scrutiny.