Legendary former AC Milan player and now football pundit Alessandro Costacurta has shared his belief that Antonio Conte has changed more than just his attitude in recent weeks.
Conte came under fire earlier on in the season for not being his usual self especially when it came to media duties but he now appears back to being his usual self and in Costacurta’s eyes, this is not all that has changed about the former Italian national team boss, who is 18 months into his spell in charge of Inter.
“I don’t think that Conte has changed only his attitude, but also his approach when it comes to the tactics,” he explained whilst present in the studios of Italian broadcaster Sky Sport 24, yesterday afternoon.
“Before, he wanted to lead the game and reach 60% possession at times. The results against Real Madrid and Sassuolo have changed the tactics and the game plan and there has been more solidity from a defensive point of view.”
Costacurta, who spent all barring one season of his career with AC Milan, then went on to discuss what former Chelsea boss Conte, who recently managed Inter for the 50th time in Serie A, had to do in order to achieve the new found defensive solidity.
“To do this he had to lower the defensive line because with so much space behind them, the Inter defenders were in difficulty. By lowering the line, however, defensive solidity improves, enhancing the counters and asks less of the midfielders less, despite suffering against Napoli at the end of the match.
Costacurta concluded: “When you play every three days, the contribution, especially from the men in the middle of the field, can suffer a in the long run.”