Nicolo Barella has shrugged off accusations Inter play defensive football and identified the turning point of the Nerazzurri’s season.

Inter could become Serie A champions on Sunday if they beat Crotone and Atalanta fail to win at Sassuolo the following afternoon, but some are still reluctant to give Antonio Conte’s side full credit.

Conte is viewed by some as a negative coach who relies too much on the counterattack, but Barella isn’t bothered by any of those claims.

“People have accused us of being very defensive, but we’re solid and we’ve found our identity,” the midfielder told Sky Sport Italia.

“Beforehand we were more open and we were conceding too many goals, now we’re organised and we know we have players up front who can win us matches.

“This leaves us feeling calmer.”

Inter are close to securing the club’s first league title in 11 years and Barella believes they have arrived at this point by building on last season’s progress.

“We were targeting the scudetto last year as well, but unfortunately we couldn’t achieve it,” he admitted.

“We lost the UEFA Europa League final and that motivated us even more, it’s something we’ve used to our advantage.”

Barella has suffered a very slight drop in form in recent matches but the 24-year-old assured he was still giving his all for Inter, despite a tiring season.

“I’m certainly starting to feel the fatigue, it’s been a strange year in which we’ve never stopped playing,” he said.

“Our objective is more important than anything and we’re going beyond our tiredness.”

Conte is widely credited with having improved Barella in all aspects and the former Cagliari midfielder explained exactly what he’d developed during the last two seasons.

“I’m more confident in my abilities now, I manage myself better and take advantage of the chances I get.

“Beforehand I got too carried away sometimes, but I’ve improved that by training alongside great players.

“I’ve studied them and this has improved me.

“Conte has been a hard taskmaster from his first day here and he will be until his last.

“We’re interpreting things the way he wants.”

Asked which qualities he’d want to steal from his midfield partners Christian Eriksen and Marcelo Brozovic, Barella replied:

“I’d take Eriksen’s quality and elegance, he can put the ball wherever he wants.

“Brozovic is focused on helping us play better, we’re more dynamic players.”

Barella also explained the beauty of playing behind Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez and was asked to pick his most important goal of the season.

“The coach has given us solutions and we’re trying to put them into practice,” he added.

“Lukaku and Lautaro are two great players; Romi is a solution even when we’re struggling during a game, Lauti connects the midfield and attack.

“My most important goal was definitely against Juventus, the most emotional goal.

“That was the match (the 2-0 win at San Siro in January) which gave us belief in our own abilities.

“We knew we were a strong team but it was important to beat the team that had been the strongest for many years.”