Antonio Conte warned his Inter players today they had not won anything yet as the Nerazzurri prepare to face Crotone tomorrow.
Inter could be confirmed as Serie A champions on Sunday if they win at the Stadio Ezio Scida and Atalanta fail to beat Sassuolo.
Conte was in no mood to take anything for granted as he spoke to reporters in his pre-match press conference, urging his players to heed his warnings about tomorrow’s match with the Rossoblu.
“They know we’ll have to play like Inter tomorrow,” Conte said.
“If we go there thinking we can take the game lightly, we’ll be in for a nasty surprise.
“Crotone will be very motivated because they’ll want to prove they deserve to stay in Serie A, so what better opportunity to face the team that’s top of the league?
“I’ve told the guys that and I hope they listen to me.”
Conte was asked if there was a risk of tiredness during tomorrow’s match, with Inter having played seven games in a short space of time during April.
His response was emphatic though, telling reporters: “We’re about to achieve something historic, I don’t think it’s appropriate to talk about tiredness.
“If someone is tired then they can tell me and I’ll leave them on the bench.”
Inter went top of the table for the first time in February after they defeated Lazio on February 14, but most have identified the Nerazzurri’s win over Juventus (the previous month) as a key turning point.
Asked if their victory in the Derby d’Italia had really been that important, Conte replied: “There have been various points in this season where we’ve gained self-esteem and belief in our abilities, it’s not just that one game.
“What’s for sure is that after we’d been following and chasing for weeks, it was crucial to go top of the table.
“Either you withstand the pressure and prove you’ve got the right mentality and focus, or you’re overwhelmed by the pressure and you get sucked back in.
“That didn’t happen, the messages I gave in that moment were well received and that’s why we’re in control of our own destiny now.
“We’re hoping we can finish the season in the right manner, it would be a work of art for us (to win the scudetto).”
Conte was quizzed on the fitness of Arturo Vidal, who continues to train separately from his teammates after undergoing knee surgery seven weeks ago.
“He’s had a setback because the knee he had operated gets overloaded and this is delaying everything,” he said of the Chilean.
“He’s not training with us and he’s not available for tomorrow; I hope Vidal can return for the end of the season because it would be nice to have everyone involved.”
Conte was also keen to praise Alexis Sanchez for the way he had refocused after his failed move to Roma in the January transfer window.
“He’s put his full mind and body into the team since the window closed, but I think he’s happy regardless of that,” Conte argued.
“Alexis knows he’s got a family-like atmosphere here where he’s doing his bit; I’m happy with how he’s doing and I hope I can play him more often towards the end of the season.”
Conte then had a lot of kind words for Andrea Pinamonti, who has hardly featured all season for Inter and is likely to leave the club on loan in the summer.
“He’s a youngster who’s not been able to play because he’s had Romelu Lukaku, Lautaro Martinez and Sanchez ahead of him, but he too is a stronger player now than he was at the start of the season,” Conte explained.
“It’s inevitable when you work in a certain manner; you struggle but there’s a lot of personal improvement.
“If you remember, I said at the start of the season that Inter’s fortunes would depend on the growth of individual players who could help improve the team.
“Everyone has improved and gained a greater sense of responsibility, and everyone is reaping the rewards on a personal level.
“That’s why we’re now potentially about to achieve something extraordinary.”
