Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi considers midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan to be “hugely important” for the Nerazzurri.
Inzaghi spoke to Italian broadcaster DAZN, via FCInterNews, ahead of the Nerazzurri’s Serie A match against Cagliari, explaining his decision to start the Armenian in the match.
Normally, Mkhitaryan’s name would be just about the least eye-catching one in an Inter starting eleven.
The 35-year-old is one of the most-used players in the Nerazzurri squad in terms of starting matches.
Mkhitaryan is perhaps the player who really stitches together the midfield trio in Inter’s 3-5-2 system.
The former Roma, Arsenal, and Manchester United veteran provides intelligent movement, tactical versatility, tireless running, and strong technique with close control and passing.
This makes Mkhitaryan a key man on both sides of the ball. He is often the player who moves around and covers the spaces on the left.
Inter Coach Inzaghi Hails “Hugely Important” Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Seeing Mkhitaryan in the lineup to face Cagliari this evening could come as a bit of a surprise, however.
The reason is that the 35-year-old is currently one yellow card away from suspension.
Therefore, if Mkhitaryan were to go into the book, he would serve a one-match ban in Inter’s next match.
And that will be a hugely important one. Inter take on AC Milan in the derby next weekend.
Therefore, Inzaghi could hardly be blamed if he decided not to risk losing a player as important as Mkhitaryan for the derby.
But the coach has decided to start Mkhitaryan anyway.
“Regardless of the yellow cards, he’s a hugely important player for us,” Inzaghi said of Mkhitaryan.
“I’ll try and make the best possible use of him.”
“Regardless of who starts, the substitutes are just as important,” the Inter coach added. “If not moreso.”
Of playing at the San Siro, Inzaghi said that “We saw the welcome that we got from the fans.”
He called the greeting “Magnificent, as always.”
“We know that we have a few points left to go before achieving the dream that we had at the start of the season.”
“But we know that tonight we have an important match against a Cagliari team who are in great form,” Inzaghi added.
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