Having only been given the starting nod once by Simone Inzaghi, Piotr Zielinski hopes to increase his playing time in the Inter midfield. The Polish midfielder, who arrived on a free transfer last summer from Napoli, performed exceptionally well in the match he started last week against Manchester City.
Looking ahead to Saturday’s away match against Udinese and considering the declining phase of Mkhitaryan, Zielinski could also make his starting debut in the league. Not only the midfielder but also the fans of the Polish National team are hoping for him to take on an increasingly prominent role with Inter’s shirt.
As explained by Polish journalist Dominik Wozniak to Calciomercato.it, Inzaghi’s lack of use could also impact the selection: “I think he should be a starter, but Inter is preferring the experience of other midfielders. Given his knowledge of the Italian championship, it was a great move for him, but we are worried because he is a crucial player for the National team and if he doesn’t play, it’s a problem. He’s one of the strongest players in the squad, he is the heart of the National team. I consider Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan and Barella great players, but we are worried.”
On the role change already seen in the National team, Wozniak has praised Zielinski abilities in front of the defense: “We journalists were surprised when we saw this on-field experiment, but with his experience, he can take responsibility for both phases. And then there are young midfielders in the National team he can guide. It’s a perfect role for him because when he plays as a mezzala in the National team he doesn’t perform as well as when he plays as a deep-lying playmaker. It’s a great change for him.”
