Inter Milan Coach Updates On Injured Duo: Italy Veteran ‘Closer To Returning’ Than Ex Bayern Munich Star | OneFootball

Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi says that Francesco Acerbi is closer to returning from injury than Benjamin Pavard.

The Nerazzurri coach updated on the two defenders’ recoveries in a press conference after his team beat Udinese in the Coppa Italia, via FCInterNews. He also spoke about Nicolo Barella’s situation.

Inter coach Inzaghi is without a couple of regular starters in defense.

Former Lazio and Sassuolo veteran Acerbi has been on the sidelines since last month’s Serie A clash with Hellas Verona. He suffered his second thigh strain of the season.

Meanwhile, ex-Bayern Munich defender Pavard picked up a thigh strain of his own during a Champions League match against RB Leipzig.

Inter have just about coped with these two absences at the back.

However, the injury situation has stretched Inter’s depth thin. Inzaghi has not been able to rotate the team as he’d have liked.

Therefore, for example, Alessandro Bastoni and Yann Bisseck had to start this evening against Udinese. That is despite the fact that neither have gotten a rest in any recent matches.

Inter Coach Inzaghi: “Acerbi Closer To Return Than Pavard”

Inter coach Inzaghi gave an update on the defensive injuries.

“Acerbi is closer to a return than Pavard,” he explained. “We’ll see whether he can be back in time for the match against Cagliari.”

Then, Inzaghi also noted that “For Barella, we’ll see if he’s back in time to face Como.”

“But the signs are positive,” the Inter coach said.

Meanwhile, Inzaghi noted that “Pavard will need a bit longer.”

“But things are going along well. We’ll try to get him back for the Supercoppa, although at this point there are no certainties.”

And as far as the need for striker Mehdi Taremi to break his duck in front of goal, Inzaghi said that “It would be just as important as with Lautaro.”

“But I look at his performances, as with Lautaro in Rome.”

“It’s important for a striker to score goals,” Inzaghi said. “But as a coach, I look at the performances and the work they do for the team.”

Meanwhile, the Inter coach also spoke about forward Joaquin Correa. “On Monday, he would have come on against Lazio,” he said.

“But then there were enforced substitutions of Dimarco and Barella.”

“He had a knock in training today,” Inzaghi said of Correa. “We didn’t want to risk him.”

“But he’s fine,” the Inter coach made clear.

And the Nerazzurri coach also beamed about the performance of striker Marko Arnautovic this evening. “He’s the player you saw tonight,” he said.

“He trains well. He gives 100%. Then he knows that as a coach, I have to make selection decisions.”

“He has to keep working the way he has been” Inzaghi stressed of Arnautovic.