Inter manager Antonio Conte has shared his belief that it was important for his side to win their final Serie A game of the calendar year which came away to Hellas Verona.

Lautaro Martinez and Milan Skriniar scored either side of a goal from Hellas Verona’s Ivan Ilic and Inter ran out 2-1 winners and recorded their seventh straight league win.

“It was certainly important to win above all for us, to give continuity and get the seventh win in a row,” he began his post-match press conference following the full time whistle at the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi.

“In this past month and a half in which we have played in the league we have won them all, it must certainly be a certificate of esteem towards ourselves, for what we are doing.

“It puts pressure on you and there was a test of maturity for us and from this point of view I am happy and proud.”

Conte was then reminded of the fact that in the corresponding fixture last season Inter were unable to come away with a win.

“Last year I remember it well, in the end we drew the game. Today was a game that beyond the three points can give us important certainties also for the future.

“I repeat that today was not easy for us, Verona are a difficult team from all points of view. We take all that is positive in this win that has led to us being in the top positions in the standings.”

The former Chelsea manager, who is 18 months into his tenure in charge of Inter, was then asked about Inter’s chances of winning the Serie A title this season, which would be the first Serie A title since the treble winning 2009/10 season.

“Inter’s history and everything they have won in the past means they should always fight for titles. There are periods in which these great teams can not win and you see the darkness but teams like Inter, AC Milan and Juventus must always start to be competitive and try to win.

“This year there are important teams like Napoli, who are super equipped to have a great season, but also Roma and Atalanta. Inter, regardless of their history, must always try to win. ”

In conclusion he spoke about Christian Eriksen, who was not part of the squad due to travelling home to be with his wife expecting wife, and the situation with regard to the upcoming transfer window.

“Christian is there to wish the baby well, it’s the most important thing. He asked us to go and it was right that he was close to his wife for this event.

“As for the rest, evaluations are made, often the coach on the one hand and the directors on the other, but things are always decided by mutual agreement.

“Often and gladly, I see that you think that I want this or that, but that’s absolutely not the case. We do the evaluations with the directors and often agree.

“We then take these evaluations to the owners who say yes or no, this summer for example he said no. Now we are doing evaluations and we will do the same thing again.

“I’m sorry when I hear certain things, we are not two abstract entities.”