Inter right-back Denzel Dumfries has hailed Simone Inzaghi’s training methods as it has helped him develop the understanding of a 3-5-2 system. The 25-year-old joined the Nerazzurri from PSV Eindhoven in the summer following an eye-catching Euro 2020 campaign with the Netherlands.
Dumfries moved to the Giuseppe Meazza as a long-term replacement for Achraf Hakimi, putting pen to paper on a four-year contract. The Moroccan departed for a big-money switch to Paris Saint-Germain early in the summer, leaving Inter short of reliable options in the right-back position. However, the Dutchman has slotted in perfectly.
Dumfries has already racked up 16 Serie A appearances this season, tallying three goals and two assists in the process. Indeed, the former PSV right-back has quickly made the Inter faithful forget about Hakimi’s departure despite enduring a bit underwhelming start to life in Italy.
It took him a while to adjust to Inzaghi’s set-up, but he now looks like the best version of himself. Speaking of his role at Inter, Dumfries has emphasized the importance of the coach’s training methods for his integration into the team. He has also admitted his ultimate goal is to feature for the Netherlands at the World Cup next year.
“I want to play at the World Cup,” he said, as relayed by SempreInter. “Whether to do it in a 4-3-3 or a 3-5-2, I don’t care.
“Whatever the head coach wants. I know that tactically I understand this latter system better now. I can also benefit from it in the national team. I find it strange that there are people in the Netherlands who still think this is not an attacking system.
“At Inter, we have to keep the rest of the defense organized and we have to do it by attacking. This is also possible with the Dutch national team.“