Inter Striker Romelu Lukaku: “Serie A Title Gives Me Killer Mentality, I’d Die For Antonio Conte”

Romelu Lukaku has warned Inter’s Serie A rivals he will have ‘a killer mentality’ next season after winning the title.

Inter were confirmed as champions on Sunday for the first time since 2010 after they beat Crotone and Atalanta were held to a draw at Sassuolo.

Lukaku scored 21 goals in Serie A this season and was arguably Inter’s most important player as they secured the 19th scudetto of the club’s history.

“I’m very happy for all the Interisti around the world, but also for the team, the coach, the club and the president (Steven Zhang),” Lukaku told La Tribune (via FcInterNews.it).

“I can say that this is the best year of my career, I hope this title is the start of a new winning era for Inter.

“Winning a title with your club gives you more experience and helps you approach games better, it gives you a killer mentality which I was missing slightly so far in my career.”

Lukaku believes he has made huge strides in terms of his mentality in recent seasons, culminating in a stellar campaign under Antonio Conte this year at Inter.

“I thought it was now or never for me when I turned 27,” the striker revealed.

“You can score 500 goals in your career but if you don’t win a title then it’s all pointless.

“I’ve improved with my back to goal thanks to a machine we use in training which fires balls at me at 30-40km/h, I have to direct them towards my teammates.

“Beforehand I was always a bit behind the defender marking me, now I’m two seconds ahead of them.

“It’ll never be my favourite kind of work but now I’m fulfulling a crucial role, a bit like Shaquille O’Neal in basketball.

“I’m proud to have provided nine assists for Inter this season.”

Lukaku was also full of praise for Conte, who was instrumental in bringing him to Inter from Manchester United back in the summer of 2019.

“I would die for Conte,” Lukaku insisted.

“I wasn’t able to join him at Chelsea (in 2017), but I’d always said I’d played for him as soon as I left Manchester United.

“Conte told me very directly: ‘If you don’t work in training you won’t play, it’s essential that you know how to play with your back to goal.

“It’s important to meet people who tell you the absolute truth to help you improve.”

Inter will finish their Serie A season with four more fixtures against Sampdoria, Roma, Juventus and Udinese, after which Lukaku and co. can turn their attention to next year’s title defence.