Former Inter winger Alexis Sanchez has recalled an occasion when Simone Inzaghi left the Chilean out of the Nerazzurri starting line-up for a Derby della Madonnina game against Milan, going on to lose as Sanchez had predicted.
Sanchez was referring to the 2-1 Serie A loss against Stefano Pioli’s side back in February, 2022, which helped the Rossoneri on their way to lifting the Scudetto at the end of that season.
The Chilean had warned his coach that leaving him out of the starting line-up for that game was a risky manoeuvre and one that could come back to haunt him.
Recounting his experience of that game, Sanchez told Tuttomercato: “I once told Inzaghi that if he hadn’t let me play against Milan we would have lost the match. I said: ‘Mister, watch out we can lose”. And that’s exactly what happened.
“I didn’t say anything to him anymore, I had to be like an elephant. Mouth closed and with big ears. Then Inter lost. But I still ask myself: why didn’t Inzaghi let me play?”
In place of Sanchez, Ivan Perisic had been given the nod to start at wing-back in the derby, with Edin Dzeko and Lautaro Martinez selected to play up-front.
Inter found themselves leading 1-0 at half time on that occasion, thanks to Perisic’s 39th minute opener.
Sanchez was later brought on in place of the veteran Croatian after 70 minutes left with Inter still holding their one-goal advantage.
Five minutes later, Olivier Giroud had equalised for Milan, before adding a second just three minutes after that to swing the result in the Rossoneri’s favour.
Inter would go on to lose the game as Sanchez had predicted, although his introduction to the game in the second half did not have the impact he would have hoped for.