Last night saw a Milan Derby in the Coppa Italia. It wasn’t a great spectacle but it was a battle that Milan eventually won 1-0 after extra time. As has been the case for many years, games are won and lost in midfield and Gazzetta dello Sport have produced the figures from last nights tie concerning the midfielders. It is a crucial area of a team, the engine room if you like. It is an area where you need to create a numerical advantage and move the ball rapidly to be able to exploit your appointments.

Inter lined up with Vecino and Gagliardini in the centre of midfield. This left them exposed and lacking anyone with the ability to move the ball quickly. Milan meanwhile lined up with Biglia, Kessie and Locatelli. Biglia remained incisive while Kessie and Locatelli didn’t move the ball quick enough opting instead to hold onto the ball more than needed. The biggest threats from Milan came from out wide in Suso and Bonaventura.

Later in the game Inter’s midfield changed with the introduction of Brozovic and Borja Valero but not much changed on the pitch. The midfield continued to be poor in its distribution of the ball. They lost the ball on too many occasions. Gagliardini was the biggest culprit squandering possession on no fewer than 21 occasions. Close behind him were Vecino with 16 and Brozovic with 12. Joao Mario and Borja Valero followed on eight. This was also a major factor in why Icardi only had 19 touches of the ball in 120 minutes of play. Milan had Biglia playing the regista role but only touched the ball 87 times, not enough for someone who is supposed to dictate play and tempo of a game. He lost possession on 11 occasions and only come out victorious in three one-on-one battles out of 11.

All these figures highlight the fact why this Derby was lacking in any quality. Neither side played as a team instead relying instead on individualism to try and unlock the opponents defence and they lacked any cohesion. To highlight the fact even more, in the end it was the now trademark simple movement of the body from Suso that gained a yard of space to be able to deliver the cross for the winning goal.