Christian Eriksen remains part of Inter’s project and is working on becoming an alternative to Marcelo Brozovic in midfield, Antonio Conte has insisted after the Nerazzurri’s Coppa Italia win against AC Milan.
Eriksen came off the bench and scored a stoppage-time winner for Inter with a trademark free-kick, after Romelu Lukaku’s penalty had cancelled out Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s first-half opener.
Conte had plenty of words of encouragement for the Denmark international and was quick to remind reporters that for the past month he has been clear about the situation at the club.
“For a month now I have been repeating that this is Inter, no one will arrive and no one will leave but you don’t want to believe me,” he told Italian broadcaster Rai Sport following the full-time whistle at San Siro.
“We are working with Christian from a tactical point of view to find an alternative to Brozovic, which is something we don’t have in the squad.
“He is working on it, footballing wise he is very intelligent and has quality.
“He is part of the project, I am happy that today he scored that goal, I urged him to shoot because we know what quality he has.
“I hope this goal will help him a bit, he is a decent boy, perhaps too much, and we all love him in the locker room.
“We keep him close, he is part of the project.
“We will continue with these guys and I am happy to coach them.”
Conte also touched upon the fact that it was a tight game and thanked his players for the way in which they played.
“It was very tight yes, just like last year.
“Thanks above all to the players who interpreted the derby in the right way from the first to the last second.
“It was a match against an excellent team, AC Milan are not first in the league standings by chance so I am happy.
“AC Milan have important qualities, having said that when it was 11 against 11 we had important chances.
“Until the sending off I think the result was not right as we were playing the game and created a lot, their goalkeeper was the best on the pitch.
“Ibrahimovic was sent off and we overturned the result.
“Even today, however, we understood that we must be more clinical in front of goal because we create a lot but achieve little, and therefore you end up failing to win certain games.”
Conte proceeded to speak on the various moments of tension that flared up during proceedings at San Siro and was asked whether he has had a chance to talk with Lukaku who was at the centre of one of them.
“This is what derbies are, they are not healthy walks in the park.
“It is right to dedicate the victory to the fans, especially those who came to the arrival of the bus to cheer us on.
“We want to share this joy with them. Now let’s focus on Benevento then we’ll think about the first leg of the semi-finals.
“Have I spoken with Lukaku? Honestly no.
“I was a footballer, I know very well that moments can happen when you get angry.
“Ibra has the wickedness of a winner inside of him but Lukaku has always been on the spot and from that point of view he is improving.
“We know the importance he has for the team, if he gets angry every now and then I’m happy.”
The former Italian national team coach was then asked about what he makes of his team as a whole off the back of such a win.
“I’m definitely biased and it is inevitable that there are many expectations towards me and we forget that the journey is only starting and people must be given time to work.
“We are producing important numbers, but with us you always look at the glass as half-full unlike with other teams.
“We have to stay there, work and improve.
“The boys are improving, it will take time but despite the difficulties in this somewhat strange year off the pitch, we’re responding in the right way.
“I’m proud to be the boss of these guys who give everything for Inter.”
Conte, who is 18 months into his spell as Inter coach was also asked about the recent win over Juventus and how it has made his team tough.
“When you win against the best, against those who have won for nine years, it gives you the conviction that something as beautiful and important as winning against Juve can happen.
“Juve, however, remains the absolute favourite team to win the title.
“I do not know what the evaluations are but I do mine and insiders do theirs but for me they remain the best equipped to continue winning.
“Maybe I am just speaking nonsense, but I think not.”
In conclusion he was asked whether potentially facing them in the Coppa Italia semi-finals will be a helping or hindrance to them.
“The semi-finals will be two challenging matches, but they have to qualify.
“We’ll see who wins between them and SPAL, if it’s Juve we’ll have to be good because we’ll play in a short time and the boys will have to be ready.”
