Inter Milan coach Luciano Spalletti defended his players after defeat to Sassuolo.

Inter lost to a Domenico Berardi penalty at Sassuolo.

“Sassuolo did well on the counter-attack, because it's easier to sit back, wait and press, or when you just lose possession the way we did," Spalletti told DAZN.

“Playing between the lines and getting the right passing lines through the traffic of a clogged up midfield is harder. The pitch was also just impossible. It didn't matter what studs you had.

“It makes a big difference with a pitch like that if you are trying to pick a pass to feet rather than go on the counter-attack. Effectively, we lost the game because of a penalty and Sassuolo didn't create many chances."