Inter Milan has an eight-point lead at the top of Serie A over the winter break with a 1-0 win over Lazio at San Siro, and defender Ivan Cordoba was quick to stress that the three points were very hard-earned, according to Sky Sport Italia.

The Colombian was keen to counter talk that it had been a simple win for the home side. “We have got the maximum result with the mininum of effort? No, not with the minimum of effort, especially with this weather,” he smiled. There was frost visible on the pitch at kick-off and the temperature dropped to -8c during the game, leaving Cordoba more than happy for his side to have beaten both the Biancocelesti and the conditions.

“If we’d scored another goal it would have been better, but the important thing was to get the three points,” he reiterated. “The weather influenced the movement, the pitch, all those factors that are going to influence the game. It’s having an influence now, just speaking.” he joked.

Second-placed Milan had their trip to Fiorentina yesterday postponed, and Cordoba thinks this is beneficial to the Nerazzurri if it helps to put pressure on their cross-city rivals.

“Psychologically we knew that it was an important three points tonight because, although Milan have a game in hand, they will go to Florence knowing they are still eight points adrift.”