AC Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi says his side have got a long way to go yet before counting themselves a "big club" again after admitting they got their comeuppance against Sassuolo.
A 4-2 win over Real Madrid in a friendly last week had raised the expectation levels among Rossoneri supporters, but they were shocked by a 2-1 home defeat against Sassuolo on Tuesday, prompting the first whistles of the season at the San Siro.
The fans' disappointment was more than justified, according to Inzaghi, who took his share of the blame for getting carried away too soon.
"When a big club takes the lead at home, then they cannot let it slip and be turned over," Inzaghi told Sky Sport Italia. "We're still lacking something to be a big club, but blows like this help you grow.
"I'm sorry because we were in great form and the first 20 minutes misled us into believing it was all going to be easy. I had hoped the difficult times were really behind us, but that's not the case.
"We deserved to lose. None of us were up to the task today. Not the players, nor the coach. I said after the Real game that this would have been a completely different match."
The defeat leaves Milan five points adrift of the top three, with Inzaghi admitting: "It was a step backwards. The fans were right to whistle us. We were slow and struggled to play the ball around."
The Rossoneri have the chance to bounce back again on Saturday when they travel to Torino. A win would take them into the top five, but with a defeat, Inzaghi's men could drop as many as five places.
That game will be particularly special for Alessio Cerci on his return to his former club.
Inzaghi handed the on-loan Atletico Madrid forward his debut on Tuesday, but admits it will take a while yet before they get to see the real Cerci.
"He's not played much this season and we need to have patience with him," Inzaghi said. "I had him on the bench because I thought he could do well, but we can't go thinking he's going to be our saviour."
Il selfie a #CasaMilan non può mancare! Grazie di cuore per l'affetto �� @acmilan pic.twitter.com/WDe2wkpN7E
- Alessio Cerci (@ale_cerci_7) January 7, 2015