Inter coach Antonio Conte spoke to gathered reporters in a press conference earlier today, ahead of tomorrow’s league clash against Cagliari. His words were noted by Italian media outlet FcInterNews.
“I expect a tough, difficult match. When you play against Cagliari you always have to expect this kind of match. We have to be good at playing the right way right from the start.”
He commented on the physical condition of Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal and what reaction he expects from the squad tomorrow.
“Arturo is still out. He has resumed training. He had a small muscular problem, clearly we will have to bring him back in the best conditions respecting the time frame that is not long but must be respected.
“As far as the reaction is concerned, the exit from the Champions League was painful for me and the players. We believed in it. We were back on our feet after the situation became difficult thanks to the loss to Real Madrid.
“It’s a shame to go out like this and not be able to score. Now we have to metabolize and raise our heads. Morale is not so high, it’s right that there is pain for the exit, but we know that we must immediately face a match in the best possible way.”
The 51-year-old Italian coach sent a long message to the fans after such a disappointing exit from Europe.
“Let’s not give ourselves to those who at this moment are enjoying and hoping to destroy what we’ve been trying to do for a year and a half.
“I see too much negativity. We don’t give our side to those who want to destroy because they see that there can be fruit in the future.
“We have to remain compact and united, knowing that in this journey that began last year we reached second place and a Europa League final, plus a Coppa Italia semi-final. We’re back to having credibility, with the important development of some young players.
“You have to have faith, I understand the impatience after ten years, but you have to understand that when you start from the foundations, the problem that takes the longest is the foundations. Once those foundations are in place, you can build a skyscraper, as Inter fans deserve.
“Let’s not give in to those who are enjoying it because it’s not right, let’s be compact. We are working in an important way and I think it shows.
“Those who want to hurt Inter are looking for destruction. We try to build because we want the good of Inter.”
The former Chelsea and Juventus coach did not particularly feel an obligation to win the league title this season.
“I have embarked on this path and the management has been very clear. They spoke to me about a path of growth, of evaluation, of helping these top player prospects to become such.
“The owners were very clear with me in August and also with the executives, saying that it would be a very difficult situation financially, for Covid, and that there would be a slowdown.
“And that we would have to be united, continuing in the path of the previous year. I think the president’s statements yesterday are what you read. I was told that. The elimination in the Champions League stings, those who know me know how I’m feeling.”
He discussed what solutions exist to help the team score more and why some players have improved under him, but not Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen.
“You saw Eriksen in the game, but the job of a coach is to bring everyone to improvement. I am doing this with Christian and he knows that I am working with intellectual honesty trying to improve everyone, whether you are 18 years old or if you are a older player like Handanovic.
“I am working with him to improve some of his aspects, sometimes I can do it in a more evident way and sometimes less, but my task is to be available together with the staff of all the players. Maybe with him it will take more time, then he will blossom and show his talent.
“As for the solution, we often find those who want to save the shots, but in the league, we have the best attack. The problem is that in 180 minutes against Shakhtar we didn’t score.
“Finding closed teams against us means that there is a lot of respect towards us, towards our system, as many people change to stop us.
“At the same time, we have to know that we have to be more cynical and mean, you have to take advantage of the chances to win. This did not happen against Shakhtar in the two games.”
Conte touched on what the squad needs to make a leap in quality and if only competing domestically is an advantage in the title race.
“In many things. Having the patience to continue to work and make the players grow to face these types of games without feeling too much pressure because maybe this can sometimes lead to deflation.
“The important thing is to grow, even from this point of view, to know that there are games that must be won and must be won regardless, even before entering the field. But as I said, we’re talking about a team that has started a journey and that, from this point of view, still has a long way to go.
“But I see my players and I have great confidence in them, because I see how they train. It’s inevitable that sometimes the pressure can be felt more, playing in or out games or against teams like Real or Barcelona last year.
“But we are working, building and we knew we had to face certain difficulties. Those inside know that the difficulties were there, are there, will be there. We have to work, improve and be more ready and competitive.
“The fact that we still have the league and the Coppa Italia, to be honest, it’s a pain to be out of the Champions League. We believed in it. Even the way we left leaves regret and bitterness.
“Now there’s the league and we have to concentrate on that. From now until February, there is nothing special, for now we have two less games to play compared to the other teams.”
The 51-year-old Italian coach discussed why the team did not deserve to qualify for the next round of the Champions League.
“I think that in all disappointments and negative situations you have to be smart and try to understand how to work on it. To improve and make sure that the next time we can respond in a better way than this one.
“I think that in the group the games that we paid for were those against Real Madrid, because in the matches against Borussia and Shakhtar we showed that we deserved more.
“Against Real, on the other hand, we were lacking because, especially in the return leg, we made life difficult for ourselves. We have to understand that there are moments where the errors must be reduced to a minimum.”
He spoke about whether expectations were too high for his Inter, considering their current position and his prior career.
“It’s not fair to talk about footballers. If I can talk about the situation, certainly the moment I signed Inter were not at the top at that time.
“But I knew that, I was told, on my part there was a great desire to put myself on the line from all points of view, trying through work to take Inter to where it deserves to be.
“I have this ambition, this desire, this determination, this hope. Knowing at the same time that today there are difficulties that before this summer there were not.
“Covid has brought important difficulties, it’s not right for me to talk about it. The club will talk about it. I have to keep quiet, work, giving everything and always putting my face on it. That I always put.”
Finally, Conte spoke about if there was a reason that Uruguayan defender Diego Godin was sold in the summer transfer window.
