The Red 10 Spark: Inter’s Quiet Crisis Turns Loud in Substitutions

Background

It was hard for Argentine striker Lautaro Martinez, Inter Milan's captain, to accept being hooked twice in two matches within four days. Yet he offered no fiery reaction in front of the cameras, maintaining his usual calm and collected demeanor.

La Gazzetta dello Sport framed the current state of Inter Milan around Lautaro’s form, noting the growing attention on his level while underscoring that, despite the dip, the Toro remains central to the project under coach Cristian Kevo.

Substitution Pattern and Reactions

Martinez logged 66 minutes in the derby against Milan and 72 in Madrid against Atletico before being substituted in both big fixtures. That kind of turnover—substituting a key forward in crunch moments—has become notable for a player who typically starts regardless of fatigue, even after long trips with Argentina.

Nevertheless, the piece cautions against overreacting; Inter is in a transitional phase under Kevo. In the Inzaghi era, their forward options were thinner—Joaquín Correa, Marco Arnautović, and Mehdi Tarimi among others. Today, Kevo has four top forwards, and he must manage that depth across matches.

There is a photo with Kevo and a clear message: the squad's balance is a work in progress, and decisions are tailored to sustaining performance across competitions.

Staying calm, staying focused

Kevo has not fissured Lautaro’s place in the squad, portraying him as a model professional who shows dedication in every training session. The new setup demands Lautaro adapt to the system and make the most of his teammates’ staggered peaks.

Kevo himself has publicly praised the player and his character, while also emphasizing that the current reality necessitates adjustment for the whole group. The situation has pushed Lautaro to adapt rather than retreat, as the team seeks a balance that preserves their competitive edge.

As Julio César—an architect of Inter’s historic treble—remarked after the Atletico match, the Toro’s substitution and reaction hinted at some personal frustration toward the coach, underscoring the emotional stakes in a period of tactical realignment.

At the Wanda Metropolitano, after a loss in which Lautaro’s number flashed red on the board, the forward appeared visibly unsettled, exiting the pitch with a sense of dissatisfaction about his performance and the substitution.

These moments unfold within the broader challenge facing Inter: convert their rotation into a coherent, high-level output rather than a patchwork of performances. Kevo is leveraging players in peak physical and mental condition to harmonize the squad’s energy and involvement across matches.

Additionally, the substitution of midfield star Hakan Çalhanoğlu in both games has been read as a clear signal: no one has a guaranteed spot. Despite Çalhanoğlu tallying six goals this season, his form had flagged lately, prompting an early exit from the field in those high-stakes settings.

Martínez himself has tried to frame the issue constructively ahead of the Atletico clash: “I hear a lot of stories about me. Sometimes people criticise me for not scoring in the Champions League, sometimes in the league. I play for my team, my teammates, and to please Inter’s supporters. The rest doesn’t matter to me.”

So, can Lautaro rebound to his usual level, and can Inter sustain a rotation that keeps the squad fresh and effective?

Punchline time: If ego has to sit out, let’s hope it’s not the one wearing the captain’s armband—apparently, even the armband needs a break from leadership duties when the jersey has more options than a fast-food menu. And if substitution is a form of strategy, Kevo must be the only coach who treats a tactical change like a magician’s trick—watch closely, because the ball might disappear and reappear with a goal.