Inter looked sorely bereft of ideas and precision in midfield against Parma in yesterday evening’s nervy 2-1 Coppa Italia win.
This is the verdict in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Corriere della Sera, via FCInterNews, who argue that the Nerazzurri really felt the absence of their first-choice midfielders as they struggled to break down the visiting side.
Inter coach Simone Inzaghi started a makeshift trio of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Kristjan Asllani, and Roberto Gagliardini against Parma, with all of Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, and Marcelo Brozovic injured.
Mkhitaryan clearly showed fatigue as this was the Armenian’s third start in a week, whilst Asllani put in an encouraging display but is yet to really make the regista role his own at Inter.
Gagliardini, meanwhile, showed his usual industry in the centre of the pitch but virtually nothing in the way of finesse or invention.
Accordingly, even though Inter had the vast majority of possession against a Parma side who sat deep, there was little sign that they had any idea what to do with it, and even less of an indication that they had the quality to realize any that they may have had.
