Inter coach Antonio Conte discussed the Nerazzurri’s Europa League semi-final clash against Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk in an interview with Italian broadcaster Sky Sports Italia earlier today.
“Shakhtar are a team with excellent players of great quality and speed. It is a semi-final, we must not forget that, a world in which all teams are fierce and strong. I think they are a very strong team.”
He touched on whether the Ukrainian side are more prepared for the match, considering that they are the underdogs for the clash.
“I don’t know, we’re certainly coming to the end of a very intense period, because of the matches we’ve played and the intensity we’ve experienced between matches and training.
“We worked so hard so that we could get to the top of everything in the various competitions, not just the Europa League. We arrive there with the right enthusiasm, aware of the value of the opponent.”
The 51-year-old Italian coach dismissed comparisons between the Nerazzurri’s opponents and fellow Italian side Atalanta, who were knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain earlier this week.
“I don’t think so, they have different ways of playing, different characteristics. The Ukrainian team has technique and quality among both the starters and the reserves.
“They are good at jumping past the man, let’s not forget Patric’s talent, Marcos Antonio himself has a lot of technique. They prefer ball possession, skipping the man and the offensive phase.”
The Inter coach discussed how it was important not to be bothered by past regrets and instead work hard to finish the season on the highest possible note.
“The fact that we have reached this point and earned it, that we have finished the season on 82 points and that we reached the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia.
“I think we’re honoring every competition to the end, so we’re getting there with enthusiasm and confidence, it will be important not to make mistakes and stay on the target.”
Finally, Conte briefly spoke about his conversation with president Steven Zhang, who arrived to join the squad earlier today from Milan along with other Inter executives like Beppe Marotta.
“We said hi, I’m sure the team and I are happy that he’s close to us at a decisive moment like this.”
Inter’s clash against Shakhtar is one of the most important games of their season, as Conte looks to guide the team to their first European final since the 2009/10 season.
