Inter coach Antonio Conte’s style of play is getting the best out of the players at his disposal, at least in the eyes of former Nerazzurri defender Francesco Colonnese.
Conte has Inter sitting pretty at the top of the Serie A standings after 26 games played and they currently have a six point gap over second-placed AC Milan and are also on a seven-match winning run in the league.
The Nerazzurri were criticised in some quarters for their defensive display against Atalanta on Monday, but Colonnese can’t understand why everyone was so surprised by their approach.
“Inter have been playing this style of football for four months now, they play football which better exploits the qualities of the team,” Colonnese explained in an interview with Radio Nerazzurra on Tuesday.
“Inter have a solid defence that is unbeatable.
“Inter cover the spaces and counter-attack.
“They have changed the way they set up, they are pressing high when opposition teams start playing but not like they did before.
“Conte understood that Romelu Lukaku, Lautaro Martinez, Achraf Hakimi and Nicolo Barella have the legs to run 50 metres and go faster than the others.
“Conte has made the most of the characteristics of his players.
“Many times the coach wants to prove that he is stronger but in the end, the one who is more strategic wins.”
Colonnese, who played for Inter between 1997 and 2000, proceeded to reflect on Inter’s performance in their most recent win which came at home to Atalanta on Monday night at San Siro.
“Against Atalanta it is difficult to play because they man-mark all over the pitch.
“They take risks, but they have been playing like this for many years and they always train for it.
“Against Atalanta, if you play differently, you risk losing.
“Inter were also a little lucky but made the most of the chance they had, even if they missed a couple through Lukaku in the first and second half.
“In the derby I saw Alessio Romagnoli and Simon Kjaer trying to be aesthetically beautiful, but against Lukaku you have to be like Milan Skriniar was with Duvan Zapata and be a bit dirty if you need to.”
Colonnese then spoke on what he believes to be one of the keys to a winning team.
“The winning teams, at least in Italy, are the solid ones that don’t concede a goal.
“Even in Europe you have to be physical.
“Bayern are very strong, but they have a lot of quality.
“Other teams, such as Atletico Madrid, have less and have to adapt.
“Inter don’t have exceptional quality in the middle of the pitch like Real Madrid so you have to take them on or play more physical football.”
He also spoke on the players in this Inter side who he thinks keep the standards up and keep everyone else in check.
“Inter have Samir Handanovic, Lukaku, Marcelo Brozovic and Skriniar.
“They are the ones who keep the bar straight and if anyone steps out of line, they get them back in it.
“This is the feeling I have from the outside, when I was there there was Diego Simeone, Beppe Bergomi and Ivan Zamorano.
“If someone was smart in training because he wasn’t happy, they straightened him out.”
