Inter coach Antonio Conte discussed the Nerazzurri’s 2-0 win over Atalanta earlier this evening, the fact that they finished one point behind Juventus and Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku in an interview with Italian broadcaster DAZN after the game.
“I’m satisfied with the work I’ve done with the team, the victories away from home, the fact that I’ve suffered fewer defeats in the league, the fact that I’ve recovered so many points from other games.
“It’s all down to the guys and the people who worked with them. With all the difficulties that there have been during the season, I think there’s been a lot of work, although I wouldn’t like to say it. We haven’t seen certain numbers for a long time.”
He touched on the fact that the Nerazzurri finished the season on 82 points, one point behind winners Juventus, who lost to Roma earlier this evening.
“The gap with Juve is still there and it’s an important one. We must be intelligent to understand and not go from depressive states to excessive euphoria.
“I’m saying that in the league we’ve done our duty, in the Coppa Italia we’ve improved, because in recent years we exited before the semi-finals. Now we want to make a good run in the Europa League and then we’ll make our assessments.
“This has been a tough year for me, now we have to finish it. It comforts me to have this squad of professionals who give everything and have done a lot this year.”
The Nerazzurri coach spoke about what the club need to do to win next season’s league title.
“For now, Juve are celebrating their ninth consecutive Scudetto. They’ve shown they’re much stronger, they’ve worked to improve while the others have done so to try and close the gap.
“They have a much better structure on and off the pitch than the others even though the others are trying to improve, something that hasn’t happen in the past.”
The former Chelsea and Juventus boss commented on whether Inter can have a dynasty similar to the current Bianconeri one.
“It’s been a difficult year for me, now we have to finish it in the best possible way and then we’ll do our evaluations for next year.”
Conte spoke about the squad’s performance against Atalanta this evening and the tactical planning that went into the game.
“We were prepared for this tough match because in the first leg we did well except for the last 15 minutes. Today the match was prepared for in the best possible way, in this journey with the guys they have improved a lot, now they always have the determination to move forward and I like that.
“I don’t want to see the team go back because against teams like Atalanta it becomes difficult. I congratulate them and Gian Piero Gasperini, he’s doing great things and he’s brought something new. Congratulations to him, whoever plays against Atalanta is in trouble.
“We were good at preparing for the game from every point of view, thanks to these guys who are exceptional. They were good even though as soon as they could they were criticised too much, as I was. I liked none of this, then at the end of the season we’ll make our assessments.”
He spoke about Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku, who has impressed in his debut season in Italy.
“Surely, he’s strong, I was already looking to sign him whilst I was at Chelsea. He’s a reference point centre forward, you can never think you’re comfortable with him in the area because he has the speed of an American football player. If he gets better at quick passes, he can get stronger.
“I also liked Lautaro today, I’ll never finish thanking all the guys. We came second, then, whatever I say is criticized. But that’s the way I am, we’re happy.”
Finally, Conte touched on what it took to bring Lukaku to Milan and the Nerazzurri’s Europa League campaign.
“I’m the only one who knows what I did to get Lukaku here. Trust me. It wasn’t a piece of cake. Now we’ll give our best in the Europa League and then we’ll do our general evaluations, not just the tactical ones. We have to find normality.”
