Thierry Henry praises Inzaghi system at Inter: ‘What I like is…’

Thierry Henry explained why he’s a fan of Simone Inzaghi and Inter, drawing attention to the smart tactical system on display and how it helps against top clubs like Manchester City or Arsenal.

The Nerazzurri secured a commanding 15-point lead in Serie A on Monday evening after edging out a tense 2-1 win over Alberto Gilardino’s Genoa, putting them in the driving seat for the Scudetto with just 11 matches left to play.

Inzaghi’s Inter are also looking to complete some unfinished business in the Champions League, wanting to go one step further following their painful loss to Manchester City in the final in Istanbul last season, a match they could’ve won had things turned out a little differently.

Speaking with Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports UK, Henry was asked to name a coach he’s a fan of.

“Inzaghi. I’ve been following him for a very long time, since his Lazio days. He was at one point known as a guy who if you meet him in a cup game, you’re in trouble. 

“As we saw with Manchester City struggling against his Inter in that Champions League final with their 3-5-2. What I like is with Inzaghi is that he plays with two centre forwards.”

Carragher asked the former Arsenal star if he was a fan of Inzaghi’s system at Inter or simply that he plays two strikers.

“Let’s put it this way. If you are Arsenal or Man City, you have the ball so much, sometimes they play as a 3-7, if you’re not in possession as much, transition will happen. Especially if you play against a team with wingers high and wide, it becomes really tough.

“I like the way his 5-3-2 looks; if we take Inter and you have Barella, Calhanoglu and Mkhitaryan, you have guys who can be three 6s. 

“But when you have the ball, you have Lautaro Martinez who will come, and Marcus Thuram who’ll run into the channel when Federico Dimarco doesn’t, or Dumfries or Darmian doesn’t.

“You can have a look, they scored two goals like that against Juventus away from home and Milan at home, Thuram goes on his bike and you have a striker already there. 

“If you play a 5-4-1, like a lot of teams like to play without being in possession, with one striker and wingers high and wide, when you hit that ball to the striker he can only hold it.”