New Inter coach Roberto Mancini is expected to re-employ a four-man defence after taking over from Walter Mazzarri on Friday.
Mazzarri was criticised for his stubbornness in not changing his 3-5-2 and 3-6-1 formations despite the Nerazzurri’s struggles in Serie A.
Tuttomercatoweb has speculated that Mancini, back for his second spell with the club, will revert to playing four at the back after playing with a 4-4-2 at Manchester City and a 4-3-1-2 most recently at Galatasaray last season.
The biggest change in employing such a formation would be in the defensive line where wing-backs would have to become full-backs and three central defenders would become two.
With Jonathan currently injured, it will be down to one of Yuto Nagatomo or Danilo D’Ambrosio to play at right-back, while one of those two or Dodo will take the left-back berth.
Nemanja Vidic has lots of experience playing in a back four from his time with Manchester United and so is likely to be a certain starter in the new formation, with one of Juan Jesus or club captain Andrea Ranocchia set to partner the Serbian despite being more at home in a three man defence.
One-and-a-half years of playing 3-5-2 under Mazzarri means that Inter currently have no out and out wingers and so Mancini may be forced to opt for a 4-3-1-2 formation, packing the centre of the pitch with creative midfield players.
In form Mateo Kovacic may be used as a regista, with the more combative Gary Medel and Yann M’Vila either side of him, although the Croatian could also be employed in the trequartista role behind Rodrigo Palacio and Mauro Icardi up front.
Another man who could play as a trequartista or even deeper in midfield is Brazilian international Hernanes, while it is expected that Fredy Guarin’s Inter career may enjoy something of a rebirth under the new coach.
Despite having his hands tied with a lack of wide players in the squad, Mancini clearly has options that should make the transition from a 3-5-2 to a 4-3-1-2 formation an effective change.
Follow George Gibson on Twitter: @George_Gibson9
