Having carried out interviews with some media outlets individually, Inter manager Antonio Conte addressed the gathered media at the Stadio Olimpico press room after Inter’s 2-1 Serie A away loss to Lazio.
Inter took the lead through January transfer window recruit Ashley Young just before the half time interval but it was not enough as Ciro Immobile and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic scored for Lazio to give them an important victory.
The former Italian national team manager started the press conference by speaking on just how much the overall quality of Serie A has went up this season compared to recent seasons.
“The level of the league this year has risen significantly compared to previous years. Today you can find many teams that take physical and mental energies from you but also points. Serie A benefits from all of this as there has not been much interest in recent years,” he began.
Conte then went on to state what his team have to do following this defeat, which was their second in as many games across all competitions.
“We must continue to work, we have started a growth path. We have a duty to improve individually, because in this way the quality of the team is improved. If we want to be great, and in my opinion we are not today, because we have to work – games like these have to be managed.
“Instead, from the beginning, there was a bit of frenzy and restlessness. We have to be good at handling the situation. Often, as was the case in Barcelona and Dortmund, it was the situation that managed us. If we have the ambition, in future years, to be competitive, we must learn to manage situations.
“Today [yesterday], we gave two gifts to a strong team. Congratulations to Lazio, hats off to them.”
He proceeded to admit he is not angry with his team despite the fact they lost and that the team need to improve in certain aspects and learn how to control games.
“I can’t be angry with the boys as they gave everything. I have to make some assessments as a coach. In the second half we did not start well.
“We have to improve. A team must be in control of the situation. Certain events must not affect our performance. We, with our performances, must affect the events.”
