Inzaghi looks beyond Lukaku's performance and calls on Inter to 'do more'

Romelu Lukaku struggled in Inter's first defeat of the season against Lazio, but Simone Inzaghi was more concerned with the Nerazzurri's inability to win without the talismanic forward at his best.

Lukaku is back on loan at Inter, where he won the 2020-21 Serie A title, after a difficult year with Chelsea.

The striker quickly looked to be back to his best form in Italy, scoring two minutes into his second Inter debut against Lecce and then netting a Lautaro Martinez goal at home against Spezia.

But Friday's third match of the season against Lazio brought a reality check, with Lukaku barely troubling the capital club.

The Belgian attempted three shots - all with a header - but only one hit the target, and he didn't create a chance; his 19 touches were the fewest of any starter on either team.

Lukaku was replaced by Edin Dzeko in the 69th minute with level play, but Lazio went on to win 3-1.

"[Lukaku] played the first two games in the best way," Inzaghi told DAZN when asked about the switch.

"More than looking at the changes, we must analyze a lost match, a direct confrontation that hurts.

"We know we have to do more in these games to win, beyond the condition of Lukaku or Lautaro."

Martinez had equalized for the Nerazzurri early in the second half, but Inzaghi felt the game turn with a close range header from Denzel Dumfries which was saved just 88 seconds after that goal.

"The defeat stings for the way it went," the coach explained. "The match was balanced and hard fought against a quality opponent.

"The goal from Luis Alberto [Lazio's second] broke the game; at 1-1, we had the chance of Dumfries who would have changed things.

"We had to get more mean on our end because these games are played in moments."