Ahead of their meeting in Serie A next weekend, Inter coach Antonio Conte will be determined to beat Juventus in order to dent their Champions League qualification hopes, according to Italian journalist Matteo Marani.
The Nerazzurri have already ended Juventus’ nine-year period of domestic success by winning the Scudetto this season and face their bitter rivals at the Allianz Stadium next Saturday as champions.
With Juventus languishing in fourth place and in danger of missing out on Champions League qualification going into their final four league matches, Marani suggested that Conte will have even more motivation to inflict further damage on his former club.
“Inter will not give anything up to Juve, Conte is not going to allow anything,” the journalist claimed as he appeared as a guest on Italian television broadcaster Sky Sport Italia yesterday.
“It is not a dead rubber game and it clear that the reasons are different, but if Conte can contribute to Juventus failing to finish in the top four then I think he will.”
Marani also praised Inter’s players for their Scudetto triumph despite financial uncertainty off the pitch, particularly with the squad seeing wages deferred over the course of the season.
“They did not receive their salaries but showed a great level of professionalism and seriousness,” he added.
Inter welcome Roma to the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Wednesday before facing Juventus in their penultimate game of the season. The Nerazzurri wrap up their campaign with the visit of Udinese on the final day.
