Inter picked up a very important victory on Monday night when they beat Atalanta 1-0 at San Siro, according to head coach Antonio Conte.
The Nerazzurri won thanks to a second-half goal from centre-back Milan Skriniar, moving them one step closer to the Serie A title.
Conte’s side have now re-established their six-point lead at the top of the table with 12 games left.
“It is a very important victory because we have picked up three points against one of the seven teams fighting to win the Scudetto or qualify for the UEFA Champions League,” Conte explained to the gathered journalists following the match at San Siro.
“We know what Atalanta are doing in Italy and in Europe and this demonstrates that we have won a match against a team strong and under great pressure.
“Our direct rivals had all won and closed the gap, we were facing a difficult team and I think everyone thought that Inter would slip up.
“It is an important victory because so many find themselves playing with this kind of pressure, however, we are showing that we are reaching the right maturity.”
Next Conte, who is little over 18 months into his time in charge, spoke on the team’s style of play and also sang the praises of Lautaro Martinez for his work on the defensive end.
“Let’s not forget that we play an attacking style of play often involving all 11 players starting with the goalkeeper.
“The defenders were good but if I have to give particular praise today I give it to Lautaro Martinez because he had a great game – not only in attack, but also in the defence.
“I had asked him to do a specific thing in this regard and he was very good, like Alexis Sanchez when he came on.”
Conte went on to discuss the way the team defend from the front and congratulated the team on the win that has put them six points clear at the top of the table once again.
“Our forwards are the first defenders.
“We decide the area of the field where to wait and then press, sometimes higher, sometimes deeper.
“Not having suffered against Atalanta who have the second attack is a great thing, we only gave them two chances with them coming from set-pieces.
“We scored from a set-piece meanwhile and I am happy because it is the details that determine the result.
“We could have been better at taking some chances but congratulations must go to all the guys.”
The former Italian national team coach also sang the praises of the players who do not play as much and spoke on what he describes as the real secret of his Inter side.
“I like to talk about who has played, but today I would prefer to talk about who are not playing so much, about the guys who have not played as much in the last period such as Roberto Gagliardini, Aleksandar Kolarov, Danilo D’Ambrosio, Ashley Young, Andrea Pinamonti, Matias Vecino who has recovered and Stefano Sensi.
“A chemistry has been created and a group so cohesive that the us comes before the me and I want to thank this group because whoever comes onto the field, whether it be for 15 minutes or for a whole game, they give everything for this shirt and for the team.
“We must continue because this is the real secret of this Inter.”
In conclusion Conte was asked if he was satisfied with the performance of Arturo Vidal who returned to the starting line-up and with Christian Eriksen, who came off the bench during the game.
“The decision to play Arturo from the start was to give more physicality at set pieces because Atalanta are a structured team who bring six forward at set pieces.
“They created some problems for us and we created problems for them.
“Arturo has done well, he is returning to good condition, he must continue, he can and must grow.
“There is satisfaction for Eriksen’s performance as he came on with great personality and a fair attitude.
“Patience was needed to make him understand certain dynamics but today Christian is a player I can count on.”
