Italian journalist Matteo Marani discussed Inter’s first season under coach Antonio Conte, the Europa League and the Lecce born coach in an interview with Italian broadcaster Sky Sports 24 after the Nerazzurri’s 3-0 win over Genoa last night.
“Inter’s had a disappointing season. Ten more points is OK, but they took a winning coach to try and win. Conte had the chance to win, a better path from the restart would have been enough. We’d be here talking about something else. Inter lost the Scudetto in their six home draws.”
The Italian journalist then highlighted how winning the Europa League could change people’s perspectives on Inter’s season and the work they did.
“The Europa League can change the judgement on the season. Inter didn’t close out certain games that needed to be closed. They didn’t have a player who could drag the team kicking and screaming. It should have been Eriksen, but it wasn’t. Juve had Dybala.”
Finally, Marani spoke about how the Inter coach is aware that he could have won this season and so is pained to finish second instead of first.
“Conte is a serious, ambitious person, he knows he could win it. That joke about second place hides that regret. He saw a beatable Juventus, he had to fight hard this season and he could have done it.”
The Nerazzurri’s 3-0 win over the Rossoblu last night means that they are now only four points behind rivals and league leaders Juventus, who could secure their ninth straight Scudetto with a win over strugglers Sampdoria this evening. The Milanese club are also only one point ahead of third place Atalanta, who are hungry for a record breaking second place finish this season.
