Romelu Lukaku hopes Inter are learning as they continue to struggle to perform consistently over 90 minutes despite sitting second in Serie A and reaching the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia.
Lukaku headed an extra-time winner to see off Fiorentina 2-1 in the Coppa on Wednesday, his 119th-minute goal settling a tie in which Inter had led at half-time through Arturo Vidal s penalty.
A dominant first 45 minutes had seen the Nerazzurri attempt eight shots to Fiorentina s one, while having 56.6 per cent of the possession.
But Christian Kouame equalised after 57 minutes, prior to Lukaku s introduction as a substitute, as the Viola outshot their visitors nine to six in the second period.
For Inter, it was a second successive match in which they lost the initiative, even if Lukaku s goal this time meant they advanced to face Milan in the last eight.
At Roma on Sunday, despite trailing at half-time, quickfire goals from Milan Skriniar and Achraf Hakimi had Antonio Conte s men in front before they conceded a late leveller.
Ahead of the Roma game, Conte had bemoaned Inter s inability to make fast starts, having led at the interval just four times in Serie A this term.
But Lukaku is now concerned by his team s displays from half-time onwards, a period in which they have scored an impressive 30 goals and conceded just 12 in the league.
I don t know why it happens, Lukaku told Rai Sport. We already said it after the draw against Roma that it shouldn t happen, but it happened, even if we still won this time.
7 Inter have been qualified for the quarter-finals in all the last seven editions of the Coppa Italia: in the period, also in 2017/18 they progressed from extra time, against Pordenone. Certainty.
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo)
We are young, we must learn from these things, but we want to improve.
Having booked the meeting with Milan, a fixture he was reluctant to immediately discuss, Lukaku acknowledged there were still positives.
We are happy to have won a difficult match against a great coach [Fiorentina s Cesare Prandelli], he said. We are happy and we want to continue like this.
Turning focus back to Serie A, Inter face champions Juventus next on Sunday, with the Derby d Italia rivals determined to win to keep the pressure on leaders Milan.
I expect a tactical match between two teams who are doing good things, Lukaku added. Juventus are a big team. We want to prepare well for this match.
