Inter have three “undroppable” players in their starting eleven moment – namely striker Lautaro Martinez and midfielders Nicolo Barella and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

This is the view in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, who note the particular importance of all three of the trio to making the team tick and driving them forwards.

Martinez showed on Tuesday against Benfica how important he is for not just his goals but also the way he sets the tone for the team on both sides of the ball with his infectious intensity.

Whilst the Argentine had come into Tuesday’s match enduring a particularly bad run of form, he reemerged at his best with a goal and assist, as well as no shortage of defensive dirty work and a drive to constantly make himself available and link up the play in possession.

Equally important in this respect, both against Benfica and in general, is midfielder Barella.

The former Cagliari midfielder has gained a reputation as something of a bellwether for Inter’s form – when he is not at his best, neither are the team as a whole, but when he is the Nerazzurri look like a very functional unit.

Considering Barella’s style of play, this is hardly surprising.

The 26-year-old caught the eye with his brilliantly-taken goal against Benfica on Tuesday as well as some vital defensive interventions, but just as important was everything that he did in between the two penalty areas.

Like Martinez, Barella sets the tone with his relentless intensity, and his presence in the midfield battle is often decisive for the Nerazzurri.

Equally decisive, if more subtle, has been the contribution of former Arsenal, Manchester United, and Borussia Dortmund man Mkhitaryan.

Having slowly transitioned from an attacking midfield or wide role to more of a box-to-box role whilst at Roma, the Armenian international has looked very much at home in the centre of the pitch since moving to Inter from the Giallorossi last summer.

34-year-old Mkhitaryan has used all his experience to look like a composed presence on both sides of the ball, and his ability to retain possession and interpret when the right moments are to drive the team forward with a run or pass have been vital to the balance of Inter’s midfield.

Accordingly, it has not been hard to see why Mkhitaryan haas virtually always started for Inter since the return from the winter break.