Inter Milan came back from 2-0 down to maintain their unbeaten start to the season
Curtis Jones of FC Internazionale in action during the Serie A Enilive match between AS Roma and FC Internazionale
Curtis Jones left Inter Milan fans wanting more on Saturday(Image: Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto/Shutterstock)
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Curtis Jones made his first league start for Inter Milan as the Serie A champions fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Roma. The former Liverpool star earned the nod from manager Cristian Chivu with Hakan Calhanoglu was sidelined by a groin injury.
However, it was a nightmare start for the 25-year-old and his team-mates as Roma stormed into a two-goal advantage in the first half through a Manu Kone brace. Inter halved the deficit a minute after the break with Lautaro Martinez scoring his third goal of the season.
Jones found himself subbed off for Petar Sucic less than 10 minutes after the Argentine's strike. Despite the Englishman's departure, Inter's comeback was complete in the 79th minute when Martinez earned his second of the game to stretch the champions' unbeaten streak to five games.
Italian media were left wanting more by Jones' contribution, with Corriere della Sera handing him a 5/10 rating and describing his performance as: "A flash in the dark. Tactically flawed." Disappointment in Jones was shared by Gazzetta, who were scathing in their brief analysis of his showing on Saturday evening.
Luigi Garlando wrote: "The worst performers on the pitch are Mancini for Roma and Jones for the Nerazzurri." Perhaps the biggest indictment of Jones came from his own captain, Martinez, who lamented their first-half performance, which Jones played entirely.
Curtis Jones of FC Internazionale is in action during the Serie A match between AS Roma and FC Internazionale
The former Liverpool star was criticised for his performance(Image: Danilo Di Giovanni/NurPhoto/Shutterstock)
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The World Cup winner said: "We played a first half to die for. We didn't get on the pitch, and our attitude wasn't right. In the second half, however, we immediately changed our mentality. When you play these games, if you lose a half, it becomes difficult.
"We weren't able to get the three points, but we're left with a player who is still excellent given what Roma are doing. But why this approach? It's a question of attitude and preparing for matches correctly: we do that, but it's clear we need to rethink how we start. Always chasing is difficult."
Curtis Jones of FC Internazionale is in action during the Serie A match between AS Roma and FC Internazionale
The 25-year-old made his first league start of the season(Image: Fabrizio Corradetti/LaPresse/Shutterstock)
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The absence of Calhanoglu in midfield was a significant loss for Chivu. The Romanian's midfield, which included Nicolo Barella and Piotr Zielinski, failed to impress with their lack of defensive nuance being criticised by the Forza Inter Milan website. They noted: "Despite the heroic comeback, we cannot ignore the drama caused by our defensive fragility.
"Conceding twice in the first half to a Roma side that we technically outplayed (2.29 xG to their 1.74) suggests a structural disconnect that Chivu hasn't yet solved. The 3-1-4-2 experiment offered more attacking volume but left a gaping hole where Hakan usually sits to screen the defense.
"According to the numbers, we deserved the win, but football isn't played on a spreadsheet." After the comeback draw at the Stadio Olimpico, Inter sit second in the table with Roma leading the division by goal difference.
Jones may look to use the international break to continue meshing into the Inter style of play after he missed out on a place in Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures.