Former Inter director Ernesto Paolillo has come to the defence of Inter manager Antonio Conte amid Inter’s ongoing struggles on the pitch.

Inter have won just two of their last 10 matches across all competitions to date. They find themselves lagging behind in Serie A with them sitting in fifth place right now, five points behind league leaders AC Milan and also with very little chance of making it into the next round of the UEFA Champions League.

“Not having all suitable players, Conte has had to make the best of a bad situation, trying to adapt the players or even better their characteristics,” he explained in an interview with Italian radio station TMW Radio, which was broadcast earlier on today.

“There was a lack of balance and this has been seen, but I am also convinced that Conte’s experience is such that it can go further but sometimes I saw him forced to adapt Kolarov.”

Paolillo, who served as a director for Inter between the mid 2000s to early 2010s, was then asked about Inter attacking midfielder Christian Eriksen and whether he has been a big missed opportunity.

“I agree. He is certainly not bad, but he has not found himself well in this team in the slightest and has not been able to become decisive. Today he seems useless, and I am sorry for this.”

In conclusion Paolillo was asked about whether he thinks this will be former Italy manager Conte’s last year in charge of the Nerazzurri.

“I don’t think so, and I also hope not. I don’t see many better coaches around, it’s more about having to find a balance.

“Let’s not forget that the league is only at the beginning, and I still don’t see anyone excel. A few weeks ago, for example, I would have said Napoli who are fighting for the Scudetto, and then they surprised me the other night with AC Milan.