Italian coach Mario Beretta believes that Inter have had to change their tactical approach to favour more possession since the loss of Romelu Lukaku.

Speaking to Italian broadcaster TMW Radio, the former Torino boss gave the view that the Nerazzurri have altered things in the Belgian’s absence, and also praised the work done by both Milan coach Stefano Pioli and Nerazzurri boss Simone Inzaghi ahead of this weekend’s Milan derby.

Inter won the Scudetto last season playing a counter-attacking brand of football which saw Lukaku looking like the most effective attacking player in Serie A, leading the Italian top flight for combined goals and assists.

Without the Belgian who moved to Chelsea in the summer, the Nerazzurri have had to play a style that is more suited to the traits of former Roma centre forward Edin Dzeko, which involves more methodical spells of possession in the final third.

However, the approach looks to be working well, as does that at the Rossoneri under coach Stefano Pioli, according to Beretta.

“Pioli is in his third year at Milanand knows his men more than Inzaghi. He is doing an extraordinary job, he has made the players grow, especially the young players, and he has achieved results. Milan plays excellent football, as well as Inzaghi’s Inter, who are starting to show themselves. He has changed the tactics since Lukaku’s departure, now they have to play with possession more.”

“He is a coach of great ability,” Beretta said of Inzahi, “at Lazio he did very well. He made an excellent Luis Alberto grow, now he is doing well in the two phases. He knew how to build his game well, even changing strategy. A coach who studies and who is has evolved over time