Legendary Ex Real Madrid & Juventus Coach Argues ‘Inter Milan Lacked Quality Vs AC Milan, Midfield Substitutions Didn’t Work’ | OneFootball

Legendary former coach Fabio Capello believes Inter Milan “lacked quality” against AC Milan and their midfield substitutions backfired.

Capello spoke to Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview published in today’s print edition, via FCInterNews.

Inter experienced by far their biggest setback of the season yesterday evening.

The Nerazzurri had gone into the derby against city rivals AC Milan with the tag of big favourites.

Inter’s form this season so far had not been perfect. But there was a sense that they had maintained their momentum from last season more or less.

Milan, on the other hand, had endured a very tough start to the campaign.

The Rossoneri have had major growing pains in their first few weeks under coach Paulo Fonseca.

None of that was evident in the derby yesterday evening, however.

It was Inter who looked like the team without ideas and without energy.

Milan, by contrast, had a clear gameplan and the energy and physicality to execute it. They overran Inter in midfield and created by far more and better chances to score.

Capello: “Inter Lacked Quality Vs AC Milan, Midfield Substitutions Didn’t Work”

Capello argued that the key to the match was “Inter’s lack of quality in the second half.”

“It’s shocking to say, because the strength of the Italian champions is precisely their quality in midfield,” he continued.

Capello called Inter’s midfield “By far the best in Serie A.”

“Inzaghi decided to substitute all three players in midfield in the space of a few minutes,” he noted. “First Calhanoglu and Mkhitaryan, and then Barella.”

“That didn’t convince me at all, it didn’t work,” he said.

“On a physical level, Milan were clear and away the better side,” Capello said. “That was clear.”

“Maybe Inzaghi’s substitutions were based on that,” he speculated.

Meanwhile, Capello gave his thoughts on the subpar form of Inter captain Lautaro Martinez so far this season.

“I don’t think he’s himself yet, on a physical level,” the former coach said of Martinez.

“He went through a long, tiring season. He returned to preseason later than the rest of the team, I don’t think he’s at his best.”

“But he always does his job with or without a goal,” Capello said of Inter’s captain.