Inter-Fiorentina: Calhanoglu and the promising precedents

Called to recover the polish at the end of the year, the Turkish finds his favorite victim: 4 goals and as many assists in 9 matches against the Tuscans. For him (and the Nerazzurri), the opportunity to get in gear and resume racing

The match against Fiorentina is approaching and for Calhanoglu there is an air of a special evening. It doesn’t matter what role Inzaghi decides to give him. Whatever outfit he will have to wear, whether it’s the usual mezzala or the vice-Brozovic one, in all likelihood he will be a success. Having made the necessary precautions, the precedents say this with rather clear numbers. The personal score of the Turk against Fiorentina is in fact worthy of that of a thoroughbred bomber, that is to say 4 goals and 4 assists in nine total matches with the shirts of Milan and Inter. Inzaghi’s hope, considering the trend, is that this time too the Turkish will be exalted by seeing viola, so as to redeem a not exactly exciting period.

Double version

The recent crisis of results that cost Inter the top of the standings is in fact nothing more than the mirror and the consequent reflection of the conspicuous decline of some fundamental players. Among these there is also Calhanoglu, for two months now only distant relative of the deadly midfielder who between November and December contributed decisively to the Nerazzurri’s rise in the standings. That Calhanoglu in a state of grace was elected player of the month twice in a row, mainly the result of 5 goals and 5 assists scored between the ninth and nineteenth day. From then on, however, the Turk decidedly pulled the brake, so much so as to put in the farmhouse a series of inconsistent performances and the misery of an assist in the first 14 outings of the new year between the championship and various cups. The decisive Calha, concrete and always on the piece of early winter, suddenly lost track with the beginning of 2022 and the Inter midfield inevitably suffered. The return of the Turkish player to the levels of the first round is one of the necessary prerequisites for Inzaghi’s team to recover the air, brilliance and fluidity of play that it had until recently.

Favorable tradition

The occasion offered by the calendar seems particularly propitious. Because, except in rare circumstances, the Turkish has almost always shown excellent performances against the Tuscans, regardless of the role he held on the pitch. Calha in fact signed two goals (the first decisive) in the first two matches against Fiorentina under the orders of Gattuso, in that case in the role of winger. He also proved decisive the following season, scoring the winning goal in the role of mezzala. He did the same on the occasion of the last match with the Milan shirt (under the orders of Pioli), realizing the definitive 3-2 in the role of attacking midfielder. The latest signing in chronological order arrived in the Nerazzurri shirt, in the first leg match, in the form of a perfect assist for Dzeko’s momentary 2-1. Mezzala, attacking midfielder or even winger, for the Turk it makes little difference when in front of Fiorentina, to whom he has scored with his foot, head and from a standstill. Inzaghi and Inter are counting on the tradition to repeat itself.

ttn-14