Antonio Conte has created footballing perfection at Inter, according to the Nerazzurri’s former midfielder Marco Tardelli.

Inter maintained their 11-point lead at the top of Serie A yesterday with a hard-fought 1-0 win at home to Cagliari, courtesy of Matteo Darmian’s second-half strike.

Conte is on course to end the club’s 11-year wait for a league title – yet some are still reluctant to give him credit for the job is doing, arguing Inter play ‘bad’ football.

Former Italy and Juventus midfielder Tardelli is having none of it though, telling Rai Sport last night: “I can’t help but laugh when people say Inter play badly.

“They have the league’s second-best attack and the joint-best defence along with Juventus.

“I think Inter are a perfect team and deserve this Scudetto.”

Inter’s win against Cagliari saw them become the first team in Serie A history to begin the second half of a league season with 11 straight wins.

They have also kept nine clean sheets in their last 13 league matches and now have Europe’s joint-biggest lead over second place (in the so-called top five leagues), tied with Manchester City in the Premier League.