Inter coach Antonio Conte refuses to let anyone get carried away and think the title is in the bag after the Nerazzurri defeated Bologna away at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara to go 8 points clear of AC Milan top of the Serie A.
Speaking to the Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia, the Nerazzurri coach underlined that the title is only won when it is mathematically secured.
“No, because the Scudetto you win on the field. We need to finish first or we need to mathematically be first. There are still ten games to be played, nine for some of the teams.
“There is still a long way to go, at least 27 or 30 points to play for and we know very well that the Italian championship is difficult, in every game you have to have the ambition to win.
“As the number of games are decreasing it is inevitable not to see something getting closer. Now it’s up to us prove that we deserve the first place, up until now we have done absolutely nothing.”
The former Chelsea coach was then asked what winning the Scudetto would mean to him personally underlining that he was brought in to win titles.
“Inter hired me in order to change the history of the last decade. The objective was to manage to win something or construct something that would make the fans proud.
“Some things have changed on the way, now we have to stay focused on our work and start influencing things were we actually can change something.
“This is what the boys are doing right now, what happens outside is of our interest but nothing that we can have any affect on.”
The former Juventus coach continued by praising Italian central defender Andrea Ranocchia, highlighting the former Genoa defender’s professionalism, always being ready when called upon.
“Is most of all thanks to the players. For example Ranochia, he is a player that hasn’t played that much, but whenever he gets the nod he is ready.
“It’s thanks to him and thanks to the staff that make everyone works as if they were about to play, which means that when they get the chance they are ready and aware of what is expected of them.
“Then they are supported by being in a very well physical condition, something that allows a player like Ranocchia to be confident whenever he gets the chance although he is behind a player like de Vrij.
“De Vrij trained for two days with us and if I hadn’t been confident in Ranocchia I wouldn’t have played him instead of de Vrij.
“But the entire squad has my confidence, even the players that don’t play that much. Take Ashley Young for example that proved exactly that playing instead of Perisic tonight, who had a muscular problem.”
The former Italy national team coach continued by praising the work done by his staff highlighting the work done by everyone involved.
“I think we have created something beautiful among us: the players, the staff and my self. They know that I am consistent.
“I don’t look at the best players or at the best names, they know that I always make a choice that is the best choice for Inter.
“This is why this respect is created. We all give everything we have for Inter, and they know it, which is why this kind of symbiosis have been created.
“Now it would be great to bring something great to the fans after a tough season and after so many years.”
The Nerazzurri defeated Bologna thanks to a goal midway through the first half by Romelu Lukaku, who scored his 20th Serie A goal of the season.
That proved to be the only goal on the day and was good enough to record Inter’s 9th consecutive win in the Serie A to go 8 points clear of city rivals AC Milan with one game in hand.
Inter will host Sassuolo this coming Wednesday the 7th of April 2021 at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Milan’s San Siro district with kick-off scheduled for 20.45 CET.
