Sunday’s clash between Lecce and AC Milan at Stadio Via del Mare was no ordinary Serie A match. With news of the death of Italian Moto GP rider and Milanista Marco Simoncelli having been announced less than two hours before kick-off, this was always going to be an emotionally-charged game. But it was Kevin-Prince Boateng who was to be the man of the moment for the Rossoneri, and while his 14-minute hat-trick after coming off the bench was a feat he is never likely to repeat, it was just another example of the Ghanaian’s continued importance to the Serie A champions. Three goals down at the break, the Rossoneri looked completely at sea. Without any kind of defensive organisation, they allowed the Salentini to rack up as many goals in 45 minutes as they’d managed in their six previous games this season. Needing to regain authority and a game-breaking spark, Milan may usually have looked to Zlatan Ibrahimovic for inspiration, but this was destined to be a different kettle of fish. The Swede had been quiet enough in the first half to suggest that the je ne sais quoi would have to come from elsewhere. Last season at the same ground he had opened the scoring thanks to a swivel shot from distance that many still watch daily on YouTube. But this particular pickle called for Boateng. The former Portsmouth midfielder has form when it comes to being Milan’s man of the hour. With his dynamic, all-action style, he has been a fantastic addition to the Rossoneri midfield, adding a dimension which no other player on the club’s roster can boast. Many still put Milan's elimination from the Champions League last season down to the fact that Boateng missed their last-16 first leg defeat to Tottenham at San Siro. His performance in the return game only served to bolster that opinion, helping to transform a lifeless Milan from the home leg into a determined, driven outfit at White Hart Lane, despite not being fully fit. And that display is only an example. He has put in big shows for his side on numerous other occasions, not least when grabbing the winner in August’s Supercoppa clash with Inter in Beijing. But there are a couple of remarkable stats to go with Boateng’s impact on the pitch too.