Mateo Kovacic has hit out Inter Milan's defence following Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Juventus, suggesting that they conceded goals "like children".

Mauro Icardi fired Inter 1-0 ahead at the San Siro, but Nemanja Vidic fouled Alessandro Matri to concede a 42nd-minute penalty which Claudio Marchisio tucked away.

Roberto Mancini's side looked on course to earn a point against the Serie A champions, but Samir Handanovic let Alvaro Morata's tame shot squirm under him late on as Juve snatched all three points.

"This defeat hurts, because we had overall a good game and then made too many mistakes," Kovacic told Sky Sport Italia.

"We concede goals like children and that is our problem. It's difficult to explain the reasons behind this loss. Our heads are still steaming because it just ended.

"We didn't have the right determination to finish off the game when leading in the first half, while Juventus are a team of winners and naturally fought back."

The Nerazzurri sit eighth in the Serie A table with two games left to play this season.