Legendary former AC Milan defender Alessandro Costacurta feels that Inter do not have any way of compensating for the absence of midfielder Marcelo Brozovic when he is not playing.

Speaking to Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia after yesterday evening’s Serie A loss to Sassuolo, the former defender emphasized that the team were trying to play their usual game but were unable to without the Croat.

Brozovic missed his first Serie A match of the season yesterday, having started every match up to that point but being forced out of the team as he served a one-match suspension.

Nicolo Barella took the 29-year-old’s usual spot as the deepest midfielder, but the 25-year-old looked out of sorts as he tried to establish the team’s passing rhythm.

The Neroverdi took advantage to create several chances from loose passes and first touch amongst the Inter midfielders, and were good value for their 2-0 lead, while the Nerazzurri were unable to break through in the second half.

“If I can say one thing about the match against Sassuolo, it’s that it seemed strange to me that Inter tried to play as though Brozovic were in his usual position on the pitch,” he said.

“There were three turnovers in midfield within the first 6-7 minutes from which Sassuolo were dangerous, and this proved to be the story of the match,” he added.

“In my opinion there was a lack of a Plan B,” he continued. “In the first half they failed to try to change anything. Sassuolo were very good on the ball in midfield.”