Inter manager Antonio Conte has set his sights on finishing the season in the right manner with him wanting his side to come out on top in tomorrow’s match away to Atalanta.
“It has certainly been a very demanding year, from many points of view. This experience has taken a lot of effort. It was a new situation, however there are positive aspects which can be treasured in the future,” he explained in his pre-match press conference with Inter’s official club broadcaster Inter TV.
Conte proceeded to speak on what he is expecting from the game against Atalanta, which will mark the end of the 2019/20 Serie A season for Inter.
“I hope it will be a good match. It will be played without any calculations needing to be made. Atalanta have really consolidated themselves in Italy. They are also in the Champions League. There will be a need for us to suffer but the goal is to make them suffer.”
The newly turned 51-year-old was then made aware of the fact that it will be the team with the best attack (Atalanta) up against the team with the best defence (Inter) tomorrow at the Gewiss Stadium.
“I always think it is right to have a good balance between the attack and defensive phase. Atalanta have scored many goals, they have scored consecutively for more than 20 games, they have great merits and quality players. We are the best defence and the second best attack. It will be a challenge within the match, where we hope to prevail.”
Next Conte spoke about needing to get used to playing under certain pressure and gave a summary of his thoughts about Inter’s most recent match, a 2-0 win over Napoli.
“It is important to get used to playing with the pressure of having teams behind you who want to overcome you. The match with Napoli was beautiful. We played it in the right way, with attention and determination in all phases against an excellent team.
“Now we have the last game in front of us. I think it is right to end the season well, we want to measure ourselves to see how far we have come.”
He was then asked about how so many players have been readily available to him throughout the campaign, especially lately where Inter have had to play many games in quick succession.
“I am satisfied, but at the same time I had no doubts from this point of view. The staff and I train the players so that they are all ready both from a tactical and physical point of view. There was a great response from the players, this is a group of very professional guys.”
In conclusion he was asked about his birthday and if he gave a particular message to the squad: “I told the boys that I celebrated 50 years with them last year. Now we celebrate 51. A year has passed and we all feel it, from a working point of view.”
