Inzaghi Explains Reason For Italy Star’s Substitution In Napoli 1-1 Inter Milan Serie A Clash: ‘He Didn’t Ask To Be Taken Off’ | OneFootball

Simone Inzaghi says that Alessandro Bastoni didn’t ask to be substituted in today’s Serie A clash between Napoli and Inter Milan.

The Nerazzurri coach spoke in a press conference after the match, as reported by FCInterNews. He also lamented the current injury crisis that his team have on the flanks.

Inter Milan are really feeling the pressure from injuries at this stage of their season.

The Nerazzurri went into this evening’s clash with Napoli with four players out with injury.

Aside from Yann Sommer, all of Matteo Darmian, Carlos Augusto, and Nicola Zalewski were also unavailable.

The fact that those are three of Inter’s five senior wingbacks made things hard enough.

But then, another injury to Federico Dimarco in this evening’s match made things even worse for Inter.

Inzaghi: “Bastoni Didn’t Ask For Substitution” In Napoli 1-1 Inter Milan Serie A Draw

Inter Milan coach also took off defender Alessandro Bastoni today. The Italian international had been putting in an outstanding performance, so this decision raised some eyebrows.

But Inzaghi made clear that “Bastoni didn’t ask for the substitution.”

MILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 19: Alessandro Bastoni of FC Internazionale looks on during the Coppa Italia, Round of 16 match between FC Internazionale and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on December 19, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“With Billings came on, they added more height,” noted the Inter coach. “So I brought on de Vrij.”

“I had to choose between taking off him and Acerbi,” he added.

“Bastoni is fine,” Inzaghi said. “He didn’t ask to be substituted, but we’re struggling in that part of the pitch.”

Meanwhile, Inzaghi updated on two Inter players who came off injured, Dimarco as well as midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu.

“We were already in an injury crisis,” he noted. “Dimarco and Calhanoglu asked for substitutions after the first half.”

“They tried to hold on for a bit. But they weren’t able to run through it.”

“It’s just that kind of a time for injuries,” Inzaghi noted. “The guys did their best against a team that improved a lot in the second half.”

“On the equalizer we could have done better. We’ll review it and analyze it.”

And Inzaghi noted that “We’ve never had Dumfries at left-wingback and Pavard at right-wingback.”

“Doing that against Napoli is always going to be a risk. But we had no alternatives.”

“Dimarco and Calhanoglu aren’t doing well,” he said.

“It shouldn’t be anything serious for Dimarco. Calha took a blow from a knee, let’s hope it’s not as serious as with Carlos Augusto.”

Inzaghi also updated that “I don’t think Carlos will make it for Rotterdam [for the first leg of a Champions League round of sixteen tie against Feyenoord.]”

“Let’s see with Dimarco. Darmian and Zalewski won’t be available.”