Inter Milan's Key Metrics Rank Last in Europe's Top Five Leagues: Who Still Has Untapped Potential?

Inter Milan's preparations for their critical match against Manchester City have been clouded by a string of concerning developments. Injury issues are mounting, with key players like Federico Dimarco suffering from muscle fatigue, casting doubt on his availability not just for the upcoming clash but also for the much-anticipated Milan Derby. On top of that, Carlos Augusto, after a strong showing against Monza, reportedly flew to Istanbul for a personal hair transplant procedure, raising concerns that the physical toll of the trip might impact his performance. Furthermore, AC Milan’s head coach Paulo Fonseca added to the tension by reminding his squad that although they have a Champions League showdown with Liverpool, "we can't forget about Inter Milan," signaling that the derby is weighing heavily on everyone’s minds.

For AC Milan, the pressure seems more manageable—they can prioritize avoiding a seventh straight derby loss over their European fixture. But for Inter, it’s nearly impossible to determine which match is more critical. They must contend with both Manchester City and their city rivals in quick succession, and sorting out their priorities is a challenging task.

Amid the bad news, there have been a few positive signs. Kristjan Asllani recently extended his contract until 2028 with a slight pay raise (from around €1 million after tax to €1.2 million), though his salary remains one of the lowest on the team. According to Italian media, the negotiations began as early as March, on Asllani’s birthday, and were an initiative launched during Steven Zhang’s tenure as Inter’s chairman. However, this doesn’t carry much weight for some vocal fans, who remain critical of the club's youth development strategy. These supporters seem to take more joy in blaming younger players than in seeing the potential for growth, meaning the contract extension news wasn’t universally celebrated.

Perhaps the most alarming development comes from OPTA's data report. As of this season, Inter has made a total of 37 dribble attempts, with only nine being successful. This puts them at the bottom of Europe's top five leagues, a shocking contrast to teams like Real Madrid (65 dribbles) and Barcelona (60), whose dribbling numbers dwarf Inter’s by a factor of six or seven. Even clubs like Napoli, AC Milan, and Juventus, each with about 30 dribbles, have more than three times the success rate of Inter. To put it bluntly, Inter’s dribbling rate is the worst out of 96 teams across the top five leagues, falling behind even relegation candidates in terms of individual flair.

Inter’s long-standing weakness in one-on-one situations has now reached an all-time low. In previous seasons, although they ranked near the bottom, they always had a few teams performing worse. Now, they find themselves dead last. This explains why Inter has only managed two wins in their first four league matches this season. When faced with deep defensive setups, the team struggles to create space or find a "key" to unlock the opposition’s defense. Their poor dribbling performance has exacerbated this issue, underscoring their continued decline in this crucial area.

Several reasons contribute to Inter’s struggles with dribbling. The first is the aging of key players. Last season, Henrikh Mkhitaryan ranked third on the team in successful dribbles, boasting a 50% success rate. However, this season, the veteran midfielder has attempted eight dribbles in four games, all of which have failed. At 34 years old, his declining form is hardly surprising, leaving little room for optimism.

Another issue is the physical decline of certain players. Inter’s dribbling leader last season, Marcus Thuram, has also seen a drop in both frequency and success this term. Players like Carlos Augusto and Benjamin Pavard, who contributed to Inter’s dribbling numbers in past seasons, have not made the same impact this year, leaving the team’s attacking play without much-needed creativity and unpredictability.

One significant factor that can’t be ignored is the club’s lack of effective transfer activity. Last season, Inter’s player with the highest dribbling frequency was Alexis Sánchez, who averaged 2.59 dribbles per 90 minutes with a 1.41 success rate, making him an invaluable resource for breaking down tight defenses. Inter’s coaching staff had hoped that following Sánchez’s departure, they would bring in a similar player to fill this gap, whether as a forward or a wide player. However, due to the reluctance of the club’s new majority shareholder to spend heavily, combined with their failure to offload unwanted players like Joaquín Correa, Inter was unable to make the desired signings.

The consequences of these missed opportunities are now becoming clear. Some fans may argue that "Sánchez wasn’t a regular starter last season," but having a player of his type to turn to, even off the bench, is a far cry from having no one at all. The lack of a dribbling specialist severely limits Inter’s ability to break down defensive blocks, meaning they will need to prepare mentally for more difficult challenges this season.

With these obstacles in mind, the focus now shifts to finding untapped potential within the current squad. While it’s unrealistic to expect a 36-year-old Mkhitaryan to turn back the clock and recapture his best form, there are some promising options available. Italian tactical analysts have pointed to three possible solutions.

First, Inter can tweak their midfield responsibilities, relying more on Nicolo Barella to drive the team forward. Barella has attempted four dribbles in the first four matches, with three successful, making him the only Inter player with a decent success rate in this department. While dribbling isn’t his strongest suit, it may be worth shifting more of the creative burden onto his shoulders, particularly given that no one else is stepping up.

Second, the club can look to their bench and hope for key players to return from injury. Tajon Buchanan’s recovery is progressing faster than expected. Though the Canadian only played 161 minutes after joining Inter last season, he attempted 11 dribbles and successfully completed four. While his success rate needs improvement, especially in adapting to Serie A, Buchanan’s directness and willingness to take on defenders could offer a much-needed dynamic for Inter’s attack. Another player with potential is Piotr Zieliński, who joined from Napoli over the summer. In his six seasons with Napoli, Zieliński averaged 39.3 successful dribbles per season, with a 57.8% success rate. Though his dribbling may have gone unnoticed in Napoli’s possession-heavy system, his contributions could become far more apparent at Inter, where his skill set is sorely needed. Last season, Inter’s top dribbler, Thuram, only managed 33 successful dribbles in Serie A, so Zieliński could certainly make an impact.

Lastly, there is always the possibility of bolstering the squad during the winter transfer window. According to Italian journalists Gianluca Di Marzio and Fabrizio Romano, Inter’s management, including Giuseppe Marotta and Piero Ausilio, will spend the next three to four months evaluating the squad’s performances to determine whether they need to bring in a "Sánchez substitute" to improve the team’s dribbling ability.

In summary, Inter’s dribbling problem is an undeniable weakness this season, exacerbated by the aging of key players, physical decline, and a lack of effective transfer activity. But by addressing these issues—whether through tactical adjustments, player recoveries, or new signings—there is still hope that the team can improve. How Simone Inzaghi tackles this pressing issue could define Inter’s season and determine whether they can remain competitive in both Serie A and the Champions League.