Inter striker Romelu Lukaku believes that the Nerazzurri have proven themselves to be the strongest team in Serie A after winning the Scudetto this season.
Antonio Conte’s side clinched a first league title since 2010 and are unbeaten since January, with Lukaku netting 22 goals in Serie A to fire them to top spot.
In an interview with Italian television broadcaster DAZN alongside teammate Lautaro Martinez, and as reported by FCInterNews.it, the Belgium international reflected on the successful campaign, including the turning point on their road to the title.
“After beating Juventus (in January) we still had to play against Milan, Atalanta and Lazio. For us, what changed everything was winning the head-to-head matches, we proved to be the strongest because we have them all won,” Lukaku declared.
“After Atalanta I said, ‘it’s over for the Scudetto, we are there’. Actually, I couldn’t say it, I just thought it. It was the basis of our success.
“For me, the match that started the journey to the Scudetto was the one against Sassuolo. We talked to the team and the coach and changed our way of playing, staying more compact. Lautaro and Alexis had played and from the bench I saw the team play really well.
“In the first derby (in October), they started well, [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic scored two goals. After that we dominated the game but we didn’t take advantage of the opportunities. It was difficult, but in that derby we were the strongest team and gave us energy to start the path towards the Scudetto.”
Lukaku has enjoyed a strong partnership in attack with Martinez and revealed how their connection had started.
“When I arrived here on my first day, I told Lautaro that he would score many goals with me, more than 15 at least. I met his dad, we talked for 10 minutes and I said to him ‘in two years we will win something together’, for how we train and how we do things. From there our story began.
“We play two war games, one is Call of Duty. Last year he came to my room and we started playing, he played 45 seconds and got slaughtered him six times. I said ‘Come on, bro, forget it. Let’s go to sleep’.”
Having tasted defeat in the first Derby della Madonnina of the season, Inter comprehensively thrashed Milan in February to move clear of the Rossoneri at the top of the table.
“The derby is the derby and in that the winner went top. I remember that in training we covered tactics with the Primavera and we trained at a high level. For the second goal I said to Lautaro: ‘We will never lose this game, it’s impossible’. I was pumped up.
“We trained for two days for Lautaro’s first goal. They play four at the back, he had to get behind Simon Kjaer because I attack from deep, and from there I realised that they were done. The coach and I had talked a little bit, and I had to be the one to kill the game. But he laughed, that’s it. I hit it, bam, but then we laughed.”
Lukaku was full of praise for his teammates and, with particular attention to midfielders Nicolo Barella, Christian Eriksen, and Marcelo Brozovic.
“[Barella] always talks, he is the voice of the team. He and I fight every day. At breakfast and when we walk to the pitch we start to attack, but he and Brozovic are crazy. We need this and it gives energy. I need Nicolo, there is a need for players who go to war and we have many of these. Lautaro and I work for the team. If I’m not having a good day and Lautaro is then, I always look for him.
“Eriksen is an artist and a teacher. I remember in the first training session he scored two goals from outside the box. I stopped training and said, ‘we lost, we can go.’ An artist.
“[Brozovic] has no calmness. He always gets angry on the pitch and if he misses his pass it’s your fault! [Achraf] Hakimi and Conte are like father and son. Hakimi took my place because he runs more.”
Lukaku felt that the influence of Conte was significant in helping Inter become champions this season and pointed to his mentality as a key factor.
“He is better than the others but every day he wants to improve. On a human level he has grown even more. When he knows he is in the dressing room and has the confidence of the players he gives even more.
“Also for this reason everyone’s level has risen. He gives directions to both of us (Martinez), yells at me ‘Romelu the game has begun, wake up’. He always tells us ‘we’re in the game’.
“Conte doesn’t do the Torello in training anymore because he says he hurt his knee. He always says this, but he always let’s it go through his legs if he plays.”
The former Manchester United striker certainly enjoyed winning the Serie A title this term and posted a photo of himself being driven around the city as he made the most of the moment.
“I was at home with my son, it was the first time I had won something important and I went around from the headquarters to CityLife. I was with my son, a friend of mine and my mother who looked at me a bit strange. I felt like a boss, there were 30 cars behind me,” Lukaku added.
