Manuel Akanji has withdrawn from international duty with Switzerland and is set to return to Inter ahead of schedule after being ruled out of Monday’s Nations League fixture with Scotland.
The centre-back played the entire match in Switzerland’s 0-0 draw away to Slovenia on Friday. However, muscular fatigue has been cited as the reason for his departure from the camp, meaning he will not be part of the squad for the Scotland game.
Precautionary return to Inter
Inter are expected to have Akanji back in time to manage the workload rather than miss key club minutes. The decision has been taken on precautionary grounds, and the expectation is that the issue should not prevent him from being involved in Inter’s next Serie A fixture away at Atalanta next Sunday (19.45 GMT).
For Inter, the timing matters. Akanji has been a near-constant in their recent run of fixtures, starting 12 of their 15 competitive matches so far this season. That includes nine of 11 Serie A appearances and three of four in the Champions League.
Minutes on the pitch underline his importance to coach Simone Inzaghi’s plans. Only goalkeeper Josep Martínez and midfielder Nicolo Barella have played more minutes for Inter so far this term, highlighting how much of the team’s defensive rhythm runs through Akanji.
What this means for Switzerland
Switzerland will now have to adjust their defensive selection for the match against Scotland. With Akanji unavailable, the coaching staff face a reshuffle in central defence, including how best to organise the back line and manage the transitions that come when the midfield is required to cover more ground.
While the Scotland fixture is still to be played, Akanji’s absence also removes one of Switzerland’s most experienced on-field communicators at the back for what is a Nations League group match with meaningful momentum attached.
Inter’s return to club football brings a trip to Atalanta, where they will be looking for defensive control as much as attacking output. With the centre-back reportedly being managed to avoid a longer lay-off, Akanji’s involvement remains the key question for Inter’s back line ahead of that 19.45 GMT kick-off.
