Inter’s cautious approach against Sassuolo last night would do them no good in the Champions League, a report in the Italian media has warned.
As per Tuttosport’s print edition, the Nerazzurri executed ‘Contismo’ (Conte-ball) to perfection at San Siro by beating Roberto De Zerbi’s side with just 29.9% possession.
Inter have now won 12 home league games in a row since the 2-2 draw with Parma in October, but the report said Antonio Conte would need to change his approach if he wanted success in Europe.
“Leaving the others to control the ball is the best way possible to lose every game in Europe,” the Turin-based paper argued.
“Conte’s method is virtually infallible if you want to win in Italy though, and for an Inter team that hasn’t won anything for 10 years this is good enough to put the champagne on ice.”
Sassuolo dominated the ball against the Nerazzurri but the visitors’ slow and sterile possession hardly ever threatened Samir Handanovic in goal.
Inter waited for the right moment to strike and eventually doubled their lead in the second half, with Lautaro Martinez racing away to finish on the counterattack.
Lautaro and Romelu Lukaku have now scored a combined 36 goals in Serie A this season, with El Toro taking his personal tally to 15, his best total since joining Inter in 2018.