Inter’s Tactical Evolution: The Impact on Taremi and Lautaro’s Goal-Scoring

Inter Milan’s recent victory in the Coppa Italia against Udinese highlighted a concerning trend: the goal drought affecting key strikers Mehdi Taremi and Lautaro Martinez. Despite the team’s overall success, these two forwards have struggled to find the back of the net consistently.

Taremi has scored only once this season, back in October, while Lautaro’s last goal dates back to early November. This prolonged goal drought is unusual for players who were expected to be the team’s primary goal-scorers.

The root of this issue lies in a subtle tactical shift implemented by coach Simone Inzaghi. Inter has adopted a slightly more vertical playing style this season, which has inadvertently affected the roles of Taremi and Lautaro. Both players, known for their technical skills, are now dropping deeper to link play between midfield and attack.

This positional change has transformed them from traditional number 9s to something more akin to number 10s. They’re covering more ground, arriving in the box later, and potentially with less energy for clinical finishing. This is evident in Lautaro’s heat maps, which show him operating in deeper areas of the pitch.

Consequently, Taremi and Lautaro have become more prolific in creating chances rather than finishing them. Both have already registered four assists this season, highlighting their evolving roles within the team’s structure.

While Inzaghi acknowledges their overall contribution to the team’s play, the goal drought remains a concern. The challenge now lies with the players themselves to regain their scoring touch while maintaining their newly expanded roles in Inter’s tactical setup.