Inzaghi's Blueprint: Martinelli and Summerville on the Left Flank

Simone Inzaghi already has his blueprint. And it involves Gabriel Martinelli and Crysencio Summerville tearing up the same flank.

The Italian coach laid out his vision after Al-Hilal’s 2-0 Riyadh derby win over Al-Shabab at SHG Arena on Friday night, a fifth straight victory that keeps the champions three points clear at the top of the Saudi Roshn League.

Martinelli–Summerville axis on the left

Martinelli made his Al-Hilal debut off the bench, and Inzaghi wasted no time testing his versatility.

“Both players can play on the right side with complete ease,” he said when asked which of Martinelli or Summerville would take the right wing in the coming games.

The plan, though, is clear. Inzaghi wants them primarily influencing the game from the left.

“Today we brought Martinelli in on the right, and after Sabri Dahl came on I sent him to play on the left side, and they will be rotated in the upcoming matches,” he explained, underlining his intention to switch the Brazilian and the Dutchman across the front line as matches demand.

Transfer market focus: defence, not attack

While the attack looks stacked and flexible, Inzaghi’s concerns lie behind it.

“The market is still open, and the sporting management is doing a great job in the transfer market. We have a need in the defensive line, and we are working on that,” he said, making no attempt to hide where Al-Hilal are pushing hardest before the window closes.

That defensive shortage has already forced improvisation, especially on the right side of the back four.

Right-back patchwork and returning options

“We have a kind of struggle in the right-back position,” Inzaghi admitted. “I have been monitoring Mohammed Mahzari since last season, and he has covered a lot of the shortfall in this position. He is a great player who gives everything he has.”

The Italian is also banking on reinforcements from within.

“We are waiting for the return of Hamad Al-Yami, and we are also working on preparing Sabri Dahl to be a player in the same position, even though his position is right wing,” he added, underlining how stretched that role has become.

Fatigue, not fear, behind Tambakti change

The derby win came on the back of a draining clash with Al-Ahli, and Inzaghi was quick to highlight the physical toll on his squad.

“We were very focused, we came out strong and controlled the atmosphere of the match,” he said of the Al-Shabab victory. “We came back from the Al-Ahli fixture with our energy drained, and today we faced a very strong team in midfield and attack.”

That context framed the decision to withdraw Hassan Tambakti.

“After his two-month injury, he took part in five training sessions and wanted to feature in the Al-Ahli match, but he played today, and his substitution was not due to injury, only because of fatigue,” Inzaghi clarified.

The injury list still bites. “Ali Lajami is injured, we hope he returns as soon as possible. We have a struggle in the defensive line, and we are trying to cover this shortfall, and we have Meshaal Al-Dawood,” he said, again circling back to the theme of defensive depth.

Five wins from five, 15 points on the board, and a three-point cushion over Al-Nassr, who now walk into a clasico against Al-Ittihad. Al-Hilal are already setting the pace; the question is whether Inzaghi’s patched-up back line can hold long enough for the transfer market to catch up with his ambition.