Inter are no longer ‘pazza’ thanks to current head coach Antonio Conte, at least in the eyes of Nerazzurri central defender Milan Skriniar.
For years and years Inter have been commonly referred to as ‘pazza Inter’ (crazy Inter) but Skriniar believes that tag no longer applies thanks to Conte, who has done a lot in his 18 months or so in charge of the club.
Inter are six points clear at the top of Serie A with 12 games left, making them most people’s favourites to lift the Scudetto in May.
“This is no longer the Pazza Inter, but Conte’s Inter,” Skriniar remarked in an interview with Italian daily newspaper Tuttosport.
“He changed a few things, he gave us more balance on the pitch.
“Everyone thinks about defending and is applied in the build-up from the back, and then we use each game to learn for the next.”
The Slovakian also reflected on the disappointing UEFA Champions League group stage elimination from earlier on in the season.
“It hurt a lot, but it’s over now.
“Unfortunately we only have one goal left, but it’s a great goal.”
Skriniar was then asked what he wishes to say to those who have criticised Inter for the way that they now leave the game in the hands of their opponents and look to hit them on the counter-attack.
“In the league it is important to bring home points, possibly three.
“Not everyone will like the way we play but at this moment, it is important to win.
“The points must be picked up, even by playing less well.”
He briefly touched upon the off-field issues at Inter, which thankfully do not appear to have had any affect on what is happening on the pitch.
“These things pass over us and we cannot manage them,” Skriniar said.
“We must think about doing well on the pitch, in training and in the match, and bringing home the results.”
Skriniar went on to reflect on how things have changed for him under Conte as he initially struggled to adapt to the new system to become the defender he is today.
“I had never played in a back five and at the beginning, I had a bit of difficult,” he revealed.
“But Conte is very good at making it clear what he asks of the player and this improves you every day.
“If I am a complete defender today, great credit has to go to him.
“How did it feel losing my starting position at end of last season? When a player does not play, they are not happy.
“When I was out of the team, I knew why and it was because I had so many defects when defending against three players.”
At the time the 26-year-old drew links to Tottenham Hotspur but Skriniar insisted that he always wanted to stay at Inter.
“I wasn’t very happy because I wasn’t playing, but I still wanted to stay at Inter and, thanks to my work, I got my spot in the team back.”
In conclusion, he was asked what he will do if Inter win the Serie A title: “I’ll tattoo it on my skin.”
