Antonio Conte changed his mind on Ivan Perisic at Inter after the Croatian upped his intensity in training, according to an Italian media report today.
Perisic is enjoying a second wind under Conte after returning from his loan spell at Bayern Munich, having gone from being a winger on the sidelines of the Nerazzurri’s project to their starting left wing-back.
As per Gazzetta dello Sport’s print edition, Perisic has also absorbed all of Conte’s instructions on how to play in his new role as if he were a ‘sponge’.
This has swept away any doubts Conte had, with the former Wolfsburg player having proved he can play at wing-back and do so well.
Perisic has had to make some sacrifices for the team, just like striker Samuel Eto’o did during the 2009-10 season when Jose Mourinho famously asked him to play as a full-back.
The report from the Milan-based news outlet went on to add that Conte would now like something more out of Perisic.
Conte is enthusiastic about what he has seen from Perisic from a defensive point of view and now wants to see the 32-year-old explode in an attacking sense as well.