The inability to call upon striker Romelu Lukaku has cast a long shadow over Inter this season, and resulted in many of the team’s most outstanding issues.
This is the view in today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, who argue that the Nerazzurri have badly missed the Belgian, although it is of little use for them to complain about this.
Inter had expected that having Lukaku back would provide a real spark to the team, not just in front of goal, but in their entire capacity to unsettle opposition backlines and keep opponents pinned back.
Whilst the likes of Lautaro Martinez and Edin Dzeko have done all they can to keep their partnership from last season, neither is a substitute for what Lukaku offers when he is fit and firing.
Far from fit and firing, the 29-year-old has spent the vast majority of the season out injured, at least up to this point.
Accordingly, the team have looked uncertain of how they want to evolve their style of play, as there seem to be gestures towards something new compared to last season, but a gaping hole where Lukaku should be leading the line.