Francesco Colonnese: “Inter’s Only Serie A Rival Is Themselves, No Reason For Conte To Leave”

Inter only have one rival left in the Serie A title race and that is themselves, according to the Nerazzurri’s former defender Francesco Colonnese.

Antonio Conte’s side are six points clear of AC Milan at the top of the table (with a game in hand) following an eight-game winning streak prior to the international break.

Inter have 11 games between themselves and a first league title since 2010, and Colonnese is confident neither AC Milan nor Juventus can catch them now.

Asked if the Rossoneri were Inter’s only remaining rivals, Colonnese told FcInter1908.it: “Objectively speaking, the team who could cause Inter problems is Inter.

“They won’t want me to say that but Inter can only beat themselves now, be it with lapses in concentration or by getting tight.

“They shouldn’t fear anyone else: after almost 30 games they’ve shown they’re the strongest team and more consistent than the others, especially since their elimination from the UEFA Champions League.

“Inter mustn’t take their eye off the ball though.”

Inter’s Champions League exit was the subject of discussion on Italian television recently, with former Juventus boss Max Allegri arguing Conte’s side were good enough now to compete in the semi-final stage.

“I totally agree with Allegri, why not,” Colonnese admitted.

“But I believed in Inter this season as well, even when things weren’t going very well at the start of the season: they’ve always been a great team.

“They’ve come from a year where they were building but they are a competitive team at a European level; they just had to believe in themselves more, with fewer lapses in concentration.

“I don’t think they realised how good they were (at the time).”

Inter have conceded just three goals in the league since the beginning of 2021, thanks to a string of excellent displays from Milan Skriniar, Stefan de Vrij and Alessandro Bastoni at the back.

Asked whether they could go on to become one of Inter’s strongest defences ever, Colonnese said: “I think so, yes.

“They complete each other well and they’re well-structured players, physically they’re like beasts.

“They’re great professionals and they really could write important pages in Inter’s history.”

Colonnese also offered his thoughts on Conte’s future at Inter, which remains subject to speculation amid the club’s ongoing off-field issues.

“I think he’ll stay,” he argued.

“Regardless of his contract situation he’s done a great job.

“Conte could win the Scudetto, I don’t see why he should leave.”