The Swiss defender is expected to be a pivotal player in neutralizing the talented Yildiz, while Chivu`s strategy relies on Sucic and Calhanoglu for crucial ball recovery against their opponents.
The arrival of Manuel Akanji, replacing Bisseck, has been met with great enthusiasm by Inter fans. Cristian Chivu undoubtedly feels more confident ahead of the crucial match against Juventus, a game that needs to address the lingering doubts from the loss to Udinese. This last-minute reinforcement is seen as a crucial pillar, a bulwark against early challenges. Akanji is expected to make his Inter debut as a right-sided central defender, specifically tasked with marking Yildiz, one of the most unpredictable attacking threats. His experience under Pep Guardiola at Manchester has accustomed him to confronting opponents directly, demonstrating not only aggressive forward pressing that forces attackers to dribble but also proactive play with the ball at his feet. It`s no coincidence that, despite a previous season marred by a long injury, Akanji recorded the highest passing accuracy (93.6%) among all defenders in the Premier League. His passes were not merely short exchanges with the nearest teammate, but also included high-quality vertical plays.
VIDEO: Watch Akanji score a header for the Swiss national team.
Tactical Approach
With a direct and courageous football style, free from excessive possession play, Chivu has already defeated Tudor as Parma`s coach just a few months ago. The decisive action, culminating in Pellegrino`s header, originated from a high ball recovery against Cambiaso, who will be absent due to suspension on Saturday. It is likely that Inter, leveraging its superior technical capabilities, will persist with this strategy, pressing intensely when Juventus attempts to attack aggressively. Lautaro and Thuram, in the game plan, will be tasked with surrounding and isolating Bremer. The central midfielders, especially if Sucic plays again, will be responsible for confusing the opposition, particularly Locatelli, to exploit Calhanoglu`s ability to dictate rapid changes in tempo. In this regard, Akanji, much like Bastoni on the left flank, becomes a crucial asset for the team`s success.
Introduction
Naturally, the newcomer will need time to train at Appiano Gentile and integrate with his new teammates. Akanji stated from the Swiss national team camp: `What happened to me is very strange because I was only in Milan for a few hours to sign the contract. It was a very quick transfer.` And speaking of national duty: in his first seasonal match, after three significant exclusions by Guardiola at City, Manuel immediately scored a header against Kosovo. He will seek to replicate this tomorrow, again in Basel against Slovenia, to arrive at Inter in high spirits: `It wasn`t pleasant to be told by Pep that I would risk playing little, but I had to adapt. Now I don`t look back because I`ve arrived at Italy`s main club, and I will test myself in a great league.` After experiences in Germany and England, Italy now marks his new professional trajectory.
A Significant Debut
He won`t have much time to reflect starting from Wednesday, when Chivu will observe him on his first real day of work. A far from trivial debut awaits him at the Stadium, a ground he has never visited as an opponent. Last year, when Thiago Motta`s Juventus experienced one of their best evenings by overwhelming City, Akanji was injured. However, he was present on June 26 in Orlando, USA, contributing to Manchester`s revenge (5-2). On that occasion, as in many others, he was deployed as a right-sided central defender in a back four: `But the system of play doesn`t worry me; I`ve been comfortable with every formation and in every position.` For champions, their placement on the field is always a secondary concern.
