Inzaghi's Tactical Plans for Martinelli and Summerville at Al-Hilal
Simone Inzaghi walked out of the Riyadh derby with three points, a clean sheet, and a clear attacking idea taking shape in his mind.
Al-Hilal’s Italian coach confirmed he plans to unleash Gabriel Martinelli and Crysencio Summerville together, with both capable of drifting into the same danger zone on the left but flexible enough to swap flanks when needed.
“We brought Martinelli in on the right,” Inzaghi said after the 2-0 win over Al-Shabab at SHG Arena in the fifth round of the Saudi Roshn League. “After Sabri Dahl came on I sent him to the left side, and they will be rotated in the upcoming matches.”
Pressed on who will own the right wing between the Brazilian and the Dutchman, he was blunt: both.
“Both players can play on the right side with complete ease,” he insisted, making it clear he sees no fixed labels for his wide men, only options.
Tactical clarity, defensive concerns
The victory was Al-Hilal’s fifth straight in the league, a run that has taken them three points clear at the top on 15, with Al-Nassr chasing and heading into a clasico against Al-Ittihad on Saturday. The table looks good. The performance pleased him even more.
“We were very focused, we came out strong and controlled the atmosphere of the match,” Inzaghi said. “We came back from the Al-Ahli fixture with our energy drained, and today we faced a very strong team in midfield and attack.”
The control came despite what he openly called “a kind of struggle” on the right side of his back line. That position, he admitted, remains a problem area.
“I have been monitoring Mohammed Mahzari since last season, and he has covered a lot of the shortfall in this position,” Inzaghi explained. “He is a great player who gives everything he has.”
Al-Hilal are not sitting still. The coach is waiting on the return of Hamad Al-Yami and reshaping his squad on the fly.
“We are also working on preparing Sabri Dahl to be a player in the same position, even though his position is right wing,” he said, underlining just how much improvisation the current injury situation demands.
Market still open, back line under repair
For all the attacking luxury, Inzaghi’s eyes are fixed on the other end of the pitch. He was clear about where he wants help before the window shuts.
“The market is still open, and the sporting management is doing a great job in the transfer market,” he said. “We have a need in the defensive line, and we are working on that.”
That need was on display against Al-Shabab. Hassan Tambakti, only recently back from a two-month layoff, started but could not finish.
“After his two-month injury, he took part in five training sessions and wanted to feature in the Al-Ahli match,” Inzaghi revealed. “He played today, and his substitution was not due to injury, only because of fatigue.”
Ali Lajami, meanwhile, is out, stretching resources even thinner.
“Ali Lajami is injured, we hope he returns as soon as possible,” Inzaghi said. “We have a struggle in the defensive line, and we are trying to cover this shortfall, and we have Meshaal Al-Dawood.”
So Al-Hilal sit top, five wins from five, with Martinelli bedding in, Summerville buzzing, and a coach already plotting rotations on the wings while he scrambles to reinforce the back.
If this is what they look like with a patched-up defense, what happens when Inzaghi finally gets the back line he wants?
