Inter manager Antonio Conte has shared his belief that Inter have more experience than they previously did ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League group stage opener against Borussia Monchengladbach.

“For sure the experience has grown thanks to what we did last year by reaching the Europa League final,” he began this afternoon’s pre-match press conference.

“I think this has increased everyone’s experience. We added Vidal who certainly has experience. From this point of view we are much better equipped.”

Next the former Italian national team player was asked about the possibility of Alessandro Bastoni starting the match at San Siro following his recent recovery from COVID-19.

“Bastoni resumed training yesterday with the group, today will be his second session with the group. He is available, he will be on the bench.

“It is inevitable that we must also calculate that when we have a player recover from this virus, which weakens, it takes a while for a player to get back in shape. You can’t throw him into the team right away.

“As for the rest we will make evaluations. Brozovic finished the derby a bit tired. We will make physical evaluations so as not to take big risks. If anyone has any fatigue we will have to be certain at 1%.”

Conte was then asked about the competitiveness in Serie A and the need to control the team’s destiny.

“The league is balanced. Several teams will fight for the top four because they are competitive and can do important things. We want to be there and we will do everything.

“Even abroad Real Madrid lost to Cadiz and Barcelona to Getafe. the results were a bit unexpected, many teams are returning to play after international commitments and many players are tired. There are some somewhat surprising results.

“As far as we are concerned we must be referees of our destiny. It will be difficult but we want to be positive referees, that’s for sure.”

He was then asked about his decision to not play Christian Eriksen despite playing a system with an attacking midfielder and whether Arturo Vidal can play in that role too.

“I think this system can get the best out of the players. We also played in the final phase of the Europa League with Barella moved to the right and Brozovic and Gagliardini behind.

“It is a system that we have been using for a long time. We can change the position of the attacking midfielder but they remain an attacking midfielder. Barella, Vidal, Sensi and Eriksen can play there. There are many options.”

He was then asked if it bothers him that Real Madrid are said to consider Inter as the favourites to win the group, which also contains Shakhtar Donetsk.

“I do not know if Real Madrid consider us to be the favourites. They won La Liga last season and have players worth over €100 million in their squad and are a team who have won many Champions Leagues.

“Hearing that they think they are underdogs makes me smile. I think that when you are making evaluations you have to be very serious and concentrated to avoid talking nonsense. If we question Real Madrid because they didn’t make a transfer, it means that football is changing and maybe I’m losing sight of reality.”

He was then asked if he feels that he is lacking a European trophy in order to seal his level as a top international manager.

“As far as I’m concerned I’m getting closer because in four years I’ve made the last 16, a quarter final, a semi-final and a final, but honestly it doesn’t represent a problem.

“I’m learning to enjoy the path with the clubs and I think this is the most important thing. Then there is one that wins, but in the last four years I can be satisfied. It’s a beautiful path that makes me proud.”

Conte was then asked to provide an update on the condition of Alexis Sanchez, who came back from international duty carrying a slight knock.

“We were very worried about his condition because there was no comforting news from Chile. He complained of a bit of muscle fatigue in the adductor area, we were very careful to manage him in the right way on the day we prepared the game.

“We were apprehensive but he gave guarantees. Now he is fine and wants to demonstrate his worth. Tomorrow I could also play him from the first minute.”

In conclusion, he was asked if he is afraid that the high line that his side uses could be a big advantage for opponents given the characteristics of his defenders.

“Last year we played the same way too, defending with 50 metres behind us. I think the characteristics of our defenders may be right to face this situation.

“We lost Godin and we signed Kolarov, but the others were already there last year and we finished with the best goal difference.

“We are working hard, we create a lot of chances. We have to be good at taking the positive things and improving the negative ones, there is no time to watch videos to understand how to face certain situations, but from this point of view there is no great concern.

“The team plays and creates, the teams are often accused of being ‘Italians’, we try to play a type of football that last year took us to second place and to the Europa League final.

“Sometimes we do it perfectly, sometimes we have to improve and there are players who have to integrate into a mechanism that is already well-established.”