Key Takeaways:
- Federico Dimarco revealed last season’s frequent early substitutions under Simone Inzaghi made it difficult for him to develop
- In his press conference before the Inter v Slavia Prague Champions League match on Tuesday, Dimarco admitted recent confidence struggles
- Inter rebounded from consecutive league defeats to Juventus and Udinese by claiming three straight victories, including a 2-0 European win over Ajax
Dimarco Reflects on Limited Playing Time Under Previous Inter Manager
Inter wing-back Federico Dimarco has detailed the main frustration he experienced during Simone Inzaghi’s tenure as head coach, specifically citing the challenge of being substituted before the final whistle on a regular basis last season. The Italian international confessed that limited minutes on the pitch hampered his ability to progress and gain confidence in his performances.
Press Conference Insights Before Champions League Fixture
Dimarco: "Mi serviva il cambio di allenatore? Io dico solo che più giochi più migliori la condizione. Uscendo matematicamente dopo 60 minuti era difficile crescere di condizione, quest'anno si vede la differenza visto che gioco molto di più" pic.twitter.com/G7a3FwOSjp
— Daniele Mari (@marifcinter) September 29, 2025
Speaking ahead of Inter’s upcoming Champions League clash against Slavia Prague at San Siro on Tuesday night, Dimarco addressed both his individual form and how working under new coach Cristian Chivu compares to Simone Inzaghi. Dimarco acknowledged that frequent substitutions around the 60-minute mark often stunted his development, contrasting the increased playing time he has enjoyed under Chivu this season.
The full-back commented: “You can only prepare for matches by playing. Coming off on the 60th minute a lot of the time was difficult to grow. I’m playing more this year, and it shows,” Dimarco insisted.
Inter’s Recent Form and Tactical Approach
After suffering back-to-back Serie A defeats to Juventus and Udinese, Inter have managed to turn their fortunes around by stringing together three consecutive wins across all competitions. This resurgence includes a 2-0 triumph over Ajax in their most recent European fixture.
When asked about the stylistic differences introduced by Chivu compared to Inzaghi, Dimarco observed: “We’re looking to play vertically a lot more, but we’ve not lost the base that we’ve had for the last few years.”
