Both Stefano Pioli and Simone Inzaghi have had their pre-derby preparations disrupted by the international break, with both sides having the vast majority of their squad leave to represent their countries.
Radio Rossonera have published a comparison of the minutes played by the internationals to try and work out which side might be the most well-rested heading into Saturday’s showpiece game.
Starting with Inter, the most used player was Alessandro Bastoni, who played both of Italy’s matches in full. Dumfries and Barella played most of both games.
Lautaro Martinez only played for 82 minutes in two matches for Argentina. In the middle of the pitch, the most rested will certainly be Henrikj Mkhitaryan, who has retired from his national team. Hakan Calhanoglu and Davide Frattesi also got plenty of use.
➤ Lautaro Martinez: 82 minutes
➤ Calhanoglu: 135 minutes
➤ De Vrij: 45 minutes
➤ Dumfries: 175 minutes
➤ Asllani: 139 minutes
➤ Cuadrado: 45 minutes
➤ Sanchez: 90 minutes
➤ Sommer: 90 minutes
➤ Pavard: 70 minutes
➤ Thuram: 90 minutes
➤ Agoume: 44 minutes
➤ Arnautovic: 117 minutes
➤ Barella: 174 minutes
➤ Bastoni: 180 minutes
➤ Darmian: 0 minutes
➤ Dimarco: 140 minutes
➤ Frattesi: 90 minutes
Milan have seven players who reached triple figures in minutes over the break. Four players have played both matches in full: Mike Maignan, Theo Hernandez, Rade Krunic and Yunus Musah, with Musah the only one who should not start.
In defence, Simon Kjaer’s 100 minutes stand out, given he will be the starter with Fikayo Tomori’s disqualification and Pierre Kalulu’s injury, with Denmark. Malick Thiaw remained on the bench for both games.
The midfielders are rested in the middle of the pitch, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek not even called up by England and Tijjani Reijnders used for around 70 minutes by the Netherlands.
Christian Pulisic (135) and Rafael Leao (137) had very similar use for the USA and Portugal, while Olivier Giroud only played 26 minutes due to his ankle injury.
➤ Giroud: 26 minutes
➤ Maignan: 180 minutes
➤ Theo Hernandez: 180 minutes
➤ Pulisic: 135 minutes
➤ Musah: 180 minutes
➤ Leao: 137 minutes
➤ Kjaer: 100 minutes
➤ Tomori: 0 minutes
➤ Thiaw: 0 minutes
➤ Krunic: 180 minutes
➤ Reijnders: 70 minutes
➤ Chukwueze: 17 minutes
➤ Okafor: 15 minutes
➤ Jovic: 4 minutes
How Tomori can’t get minutes while Maguire and Kalvin Philips are able to start games blows my mind. How bad is it for his morale?
He’s going to want to go to the Euros and if he can’t… he’s going to ask for a transfer to the premier league… It’s ridiculous.
Every time i watch a game the eng commentators make fun of Southgate for not calling on Tomori.
I honestly have no idea how that dude managed to stay the selector since 2016..
I don’t know why he is so fixated on playing Maguire, like anyone can play good when you have Jude, Declan Rice in the midfield covering up for you.
he is probably in awe of his goal scoring abilities
Whose love is stronger?
Southgate & Maguire
vs
Pioli & Krunic
Good comparison
Unfortunately we dont have poll in chat.
I vote for Southgate and Maguire, its not easy to choose Lord Maguire irrespective of his dumb type player
Would be nice to add distance traveled for international duty. Hopefully Lautaro is tired from traveling to s. America.
And here’s a 1-11 of our former players who were all involved in international duty this week…
Donnarumma
Rodriguez
Romagnoli
Gomez
Darmian
Locatelli
Cristante
Tonali
Kessie
CDK
Aubameyang
Were there more to our former players involved than current?