Inter Milan coach Cristian Chivu has explained the surprising tactical changes he made for the Coppa Italia semi-final against Como, which ended in a 0-0 draw.

“We’ve got to make do with what we have,” Chivu said, referring to the injuries and unavailability of key players like Lautaro Martinez and Ange-Yoan Bonny. He opted for a system with Andy Diouf in a more advanced role to support Francesco Pio Esposito.

Chivu admitted it was the first time Inter had played with a pair of creative midfielders supporting the striker. “It’s the first time I played with a pair of creative midfielders supporting the striker,” he confessed.

The Nerazzurri struggled to create chances, and Chivu acknowledged that it wasn’t an entertaining game to watch. “It wasn’t a real Inter type of game, and not admittedly very entertaining to watch either,” he said.

Chivu praised his players for adapting to the new approach, despite limited preparation time. “The lads did well to understand the instructions quickly and give their best,” he said.

Inter will face rivals Milan in the Serie A derby on Sunday, and Chivu hinted that they might revert to their usual 3-5-2 system. “We’ve got four days before the derby, we’ll see who is available, and then decide what to do for that match,” he said.

The second leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final will be played on April 21 or 22, and Inter will be looking to bounce back stronger after their Champions League exit and the draw against Como.