Dietmar Kuhbauer claims Mauro Icardi losing the Inter captaincy “will influence the whole team” when they face Rapid Vienna.
The two sides meet in the last 32 of the Europa League, with the first leg taking place in Austria on Thursday.
Inter announced on Wednesday that Icardi was no longer club captain, instead handing the armband to Samir Handanovic.
The striker was then left out of the 19-man squad travelling for the encounter, and Kuhbauer believes it will play on the Nerazzurri’s minds.
Dietmar Kuhbauer claims Mauro Icardi losing the Inter captaincy “will influence the whole team” when they face Rapid Vienna.
The two sides meet in the last 32 of the Europa League, with the first leg taking place in Austria on Thursday.
Inter announced on Wednesday that Icardi was no longer club captain, instead handing the armband to Samir Handanovic.
The striker was then left out of the 19-man squad travelling for the encounter, and Kuhbauer believes it will play on the Nerazzurri’s minds.
"Spalletti is a good Coach, but everybody knows that," he said in his Press conference.
"In recent weeks, he has had some problems and as what usually happens, that's when the criticism begins to come out.
"Inter secured a good win over Parma and they needed it, but this situation with Icardi will influence the whole team tomorrow."
However, the Rapid boss warned his own players not to be distracted by Icardi’s absence, reminding them the Beneamata had plenty of quality elsewhere.
"The important thing is to understand how the team will play," he added. "We are focused on Inter, and not on the individual.
"If Icardi doesn't play, there will be someone else in his place and we'll have to be ready."