Inter coach Antonio Conte has revealed that he was advised against taking up the position but insists that he looking to remain at the Nerazzurri for the long term.
The former Juventus coach took the helm at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in May 2019 after replacing Luciano Spalletti, and led Inter to the Europa League Final in his first season, whilst currently has the club top of Serie A this term.
In an interview published in today’s newspaper edition of Corriere dello Sport, Conte admitted that his Juventus past, as both a player and a coach, led to some advising him not to make the switch to Inter.
“After my career as a footballer I started rolling up my sleeves again, firstly with Arezzo,” the 51-year-old declared. “Conte the player won everything, but Conte the coach had to start from scratch. I questioned myself.
“Those who have played in great teams think that they can coach, but it is completely different. I had a path that led me to Inter much more prepared. The experience at Juve was important, but I arrived with baggage that I’d previously built up and was advised against it.
“I’m always ready for a challenge and Inter are the biggest of my career. I’m not afraid of comparisons though, I know I have a lot to offer.”
With just over a year remaining on his contract at the Nerazzurri, Conte also touched on his desire to remain at the club, as well as dealing with the fall out of Inter’s elimination from the Champions League in December.
“An opposition fan would have pushed for me to be sacked [after the Champions League elimination] and as an opponent I want to kill my enemy, in a sporting sense.
“Getting rid of me would have made it easier for others, the passion makes the difference and it’s contagious. I live this feeling and make those who work with me live it too. If you feel a sense of belonging it gives you something extra.
“I don’t know if we will win, but we will do everything possible to try. A coach, when he decides to commit to a project, is happy if he has the opportunity to work for a long time at the same club. If he is forced to leave after a short time, there is only bitterness. It is also easier after the foundations are laid and I would like continuity.”
Inter thrashed rivals AC Milan last weekend to move four points clear at the top of Serie A, as the Nerazzurri look to seal a first Scudetto since 2010.
“If you want to remain ahead of the competition you must have consistency. Juventus created a winning mentality, but for the past year and a half Inter have been a club aspiring for success. Other teams are also growing, so we must work hard,” Conte continued.
“The club has always been constantly changing. We started at 3-5-2, then in the second half of last season we became more aggressive and reached the Europa League Final. Often we talk about simple football, but obviously we notice that there is an idea behind it.
“We started again like that, aggressively. Maybe others found a way to counterbalance this, but we adapted and have become more compact.
“It is difficult to change the mentality and when you don’t win for 10 years you become used to that, subconsciously, looking for alibis or blaming others. It is important to change this across the entire club, not just the players.
“So you raise the pressure and try to get a reaction. This is the difference between being a winner and just earning a living. There are many good coaches who play great football, such as Spalletti, but the problem is being able to create an atmosphere where everyone follows your direction.”
Conte went on to explain his tactical style with Inter, particularly his use of his midfielders and forwards to go top of the league.
“I tell the players that when we attack we must remain cautious. The optimist thinks that he won’t lose the ball and is not prepared, but the pessimist plans for this. We need balance and for me attacking with five or six players is best,” the coach claimed.
“[Achraf] Hakimi and [Ivan] Perisic, plus [Christian] Eriksen as an attacking midfielder, with [Nicolo] Barella. In the first half of the season we created a lot, but we were exposed at times and conceded too often. Now we have better balance.
“It is too simplistic to say that [Romelu] Lukaku is a threat when he has space to run. He is a danger in the area, and with [Lautaro] Martinez I think causes problems for defenders. Lukaku is atypical, he is both fast and a target man, like an American football player.”