Inter coach Antonio Conte held a press conference ahead of tomorrow’s Serie A clash away against Sassuolo which was broadcast in its entirety live via the club’s YouTube channel.
“The team has worked not well, but very well. This leaves me very happy from all points of view. There’s a lot of commitment, a lot of desire, a lot of determination. When you see this in training and in the games, you have to be serene, then you can win the game or not, but the important thing is that there is always a great desire to do and improve. I see it every day and that leaves me happy and serene.”
He spoke about the reduced strength of the squad after the injuries suffered during the international break.
“We start from the assumption that it is right to consider all the members of the squad as full members. There may be times when one proves more or less but I’ve always said I have great faith in all the players in the squad because they’re players I’ve decided to keep, or we’ve decided to take. That’s why I have great confidence in these players. We’ll face the situation with our heads held high and our chests out, ready to fight.”
The 50-year-old Italian then discussed the injury for former Manchester United forward Alexis Sanchez.
“There was a lot of displeasure on my part and on the part of the medical staff. I think we’d made up for it and he’d also started to make a big contribution in every respect. I’m also sorry for the guy who came with great enthusiasm and a desire to prove himself. He was doing well; he had worked really hard to be the Sanchez we knew. He was starting to reap the benefits and there was this injury. Sorry for us and for him but injuries are part of his career. I’ve had a lot of them, you have to be good at getting up stronger than before.”
Conte didn’t want to comment on the rumors concerning Ibrahimovic joining Inter in January.
“Talking about other players is not right for what my current players are giving me, and I hope they continue to give me. With the greatest respect for Ibra because we’re talking about an extraordinary guy who will remain in the world of football when he stops.”
“I have respect for him and for my players. Sometimes some injuries can give you opportunities and stimuli to improve even more, to create even more unity and to be more connected. We have to take advantage of this and get out of the misadventure stronger.”
He then touched on what the squad needs to keep doing to improve.
“For now, we have given continuity of results, we have not been electric. We must continue to have regularity of results and performance, continuing this path that we started trying to improve day by day. This must be important, the future passes from the improvement of each of us.”
The Nerazzurri coach then spoke about the busy calendar when including the national team commitments and whether it should be changed.
“It’s not easy because, as I said, I’ve been on both sides. Before being a national coach and having only lived experiences with the club it is inevitable that you selfishly see it on your side. When you become a coach, you complain about your time because you never see the players, after November you don’t see them anymore and then you see them for ten days a month after four months.”
“I’ve also complained, I’m honest. After my experience with the national team, I also understand the coach’s role, who ask for time because they need time and to seize the opportunities to work with the players. Right now, I’m the last person who can give an answer. It would be difficult for me.”
The former Juventus and Chelsea coach also discussed what improvements he’s been working on with the squad after two losses in a row.
“In all the games, won or not, we have examined what we have done well and badly. In a very objective way, as always, we tried to identify situations where we could improve. When you play 7 games in 23 days the time for working on the tactical side is much smaller. During the matches where you’ve only played, you leave something out tactically or, in any case, after only three months, I can’t expect certain things to be fixed in the mind of the players. So, we used these days to work on the concepts that we could touch less in those twenty days.”
Conte then spoke about what he expects from tomorrow’s game.
“We are sorry for the loss of President Squinzi, who was the creator of Sassuolo together with those who will have to continue this discussion. I see a very serious club, a very prepared coach, they have clear ideas. There is maximum respect because they play football in a serious way and in a small reality. I applaud them a lot. Tomorrow there’s an important match for them, very important for us. We’ll measure ourselves in the knowledge that we’re facing a situation in the Serie A championship.”
The 50-year-old Italian coach touched on the growth of 17-year-old Sebastiano Esposito.
“Just to clarify the situation because so many people speak without knowing. Three weeks ago, Maurizio Viscidi came here, who was in charge of the youth squad already when I was in charge. Speaking at the office I told him that I was very happy for Esposito if he could play in the World Cup, the only thing is that nothing had to happen to others. And he told me that there were no problems.”
“We chatted quietly; I don’t know where some things came out. Having said that we’re talking about a guy who did all the pre-season with us. An important prospect for the future and the present. He grew up a lot, physically and mentally. He’s actually a player of the squad. I wouldn’t be afraid to let him play.”
“It’s inevitable that when you’re behind Lukaku, Lautaro, Politano and Sanchez we have to be as clear as we were at the beginning of the summer. I was making him debut in Barcelona, to make it clear how confident I am and what my team-mates are. He’s a boy who has to travel a lot, but he doesn’t give me any signs of being presumptuous. If he were to give me any, be sure that I would be ready to take it off.”
“He’s working and he’ll have his chances. He’ll have to give us something because the moment you play it’s because I think you can give us something. His teammates have confidence, the club also, me and the staff as well. I repeat: in misfortunes there are opportunities. Let’s try to see the glass half full.”
Finally, Conte discussed whether or not Alessandro Bastoni would play tomorrow.
“Alessandro has a season with Parma behind him, compared to Esposito. He also played very well. He has interesting prospects. He’s the future but also the present, as I said before for Esposito. I’m sure it’s the reason why he didn’t go away on loan. He’s part of the squad. We can play against Juventus or Sassuolo, he has the same chances as the others.”