Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Nicolo Barella were both well below par in midfield for Inter Milan against Lazio yesterday.
This is the view in today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews.
Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi went with his usual first-choice midfield trio against Lazio yesterday.
That meant that Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Nicolo Barella started alongside Hakan Calhanoglu.
In the case of Calhanoglu, the Turk put in a very tidy performance.
However, the same cannot be said of the other two midfielders in the Nerazzurri engine room.
Mkhitaryan & Barella Both Below Par For Inter Milan Vs Lazio
Firstly, there was Mkhitaryan. The former Arsenal and Roma midfielder was just making his return from a thigh problem.
In spite of the fitness doubts, there was no lack of industry from the Armenian.
As always, Mkhitaryan got through more than his share of running.
However, there was some evidence of rust and fatigue in the 36-year-old’s performance.
Mkhitaryan lost the ball too many times in a sloppy manner. And then in possession, the Armenian offered little in attack.
Even more than Mkhitaryan, the Corriere argue, Nicolo Barella did not manage to have the necessary impact on the match.
There was little urgency to the 28-year-old’s play. Instead of his usual energy, he was at the heart of an overall feeling of complacency from Inter during the second half.
Miki being useless is nothing new, but Barella (wearing the armband!) was a total disgrace yesterday! it’s one thing your passing being off, but he literally walked for the entire first half!! If you can’t be arsed to even jog, let alone run, then don’t step onto the pitch in the first place!!
The players may have decided that The Champions League is all that matters, but as a fan, I want the Scudetto first and foremost!!! Genoa and Parma both did us huge favours over the last 2 weeks, and we have failed to capitalise, yet again!!
And I’m not having the average age of the squad as an excuse!! This was a lack of effort, not fatigue, and we were put to the sword by a fucking 38 year old!!!!!!