Ambrosini likens Inter’s Calhanoglu to Theo Hernandez but rubbishes Pirlo comparison

Massimo Ambrosini has rebuffed a comparison between Hakan Calhanoglu’s role at Inter and that of Andrea Pirlo, while he did draw parallels to Theo Hernandez.

Inter now have a firm advantage in the title race after they beat Juventus 1-0 at San Siro on Sunday night, and Calhanoglu has been praised for his performance in the game as the deeper-lying midfield player.

The Turkey international left Milan for Inter in 2021 and had to watch his old club lift the Scudetto in his first season with the Nerazzurri, but they are now on course to win the league this year.

Calhanoglu has also moved further back positionally, playing more as the deeper of a trio often completed by Nicolo Barella and Henrikh Mkhitaryan or Davide Frattesi.

La Gazzetta dello Sport contacted Ambrosini to get his thoughts on the comparisons with Pirlo’s role at Milan and Juventus, with his comments relayed by Radio Rossonera.

“Many things about Calhanoglu are striking. Above all, perhaps, what stands out is the mix between technique and defensive quality, the readiness to reconquer with malice,” he said.

“He is a very different playmaker from others, the dynamism of Inter’s midfield is very high. Pirlo? No, there is very little in common. The real similarity is in the ability to kick in all ways, to find a man 40 metres away.

“All comparisons with Andrea are doomed to fail. Pirlo had looking in behind as his first thought, also because we had strikers always ready to attack the defence vertically.

“Calhanoglu on the other hand, given how Inter plays, tends more towards short passing. Then Hakan covers more of the field, when he gives the ball he offers himself. And he kicks differently, more drily.”

How important is Calhanoglu in Inter’s dynamics? And is there a comparable in that sense at Milan?

“Is he the least replaceable player at Inter together with Lautaro? Yes, the same goes for Theo Hernandez at Milan: he is so superior…

“How would Ancelotti’s Milan have played against Calhanoglu? Inzaghi’s variations make Inter dynamic, very difficult to stop. So I say as a team, of course, going man to man wouldn’t work.”