Ahead of tomorrow’s match away to Bologna, Antonio Conte spoke at the customary pre-match press conference and firstly shared what he is expecting from the Rossoblu.

“Bologna are an excellent side, their intensity is their main weapon as they create pressure across the whole pitch. We’ll have to play our game, prepare well for it and we’ve already started doing that and we’ll have to look to beat them blow-for-blow,” he started.

“It will be an intense match where we’ll have to give everything to leave the Dall’Ara with the points and let’s hope that it’s the three points.”

Next Conte was asked how many players he thinks he needs to no longer consider the team lacking depth.

“These are not things I have to discuss in the press room. These are things to discuss with the management. We started a journey, We are moving forward. There is great harmony, we know that we must grow. It is a path that started this year because we changed three players on which Inter built the base in past years and we started over. It takes time, nobody has a magic wand.”

He was then asked about Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent comments where he stated they struggled past Genoa because of the pressure Inter are applying.

“For us, the goal is to be competitive. This is the most important thing this year. Being competitive means that others are beginning to understand that you have taken the right path. I believe that this idea has been transferred to the outside for what we are doing on and off the field.

“I want to reiterate, we have started a journey and it will take time. We will have to not get discouraged when things are not all positive and we will have to be good not to exalt ourselves when they are very positive. We need to remain calm. We need to have focus and a vision. Having a vision is important, if you have the ambition to win again. I think that this vision is slowly coming into our head and will be very important for the future.”

Conte was then asked by what he meant by his comments post-Brescia wherein he said he has learned things he did not know about the team when he took over.

“I don’t think I said anything that another coach wouldn’t have. When every manager arrives at a new team they need to get to grips with the situation and understand everything. The situation is much clearer and knowing this, I can better explain things to the president and club leaders. After four months, you begin to understand and make the team your own, know how to make improvements and how to move forward.”

He also spoke on Lautaro Martinez, who has been in fine form this season.

“I think it is more important to look at the present and from that build the future. He is doing well, he has made good progress and he has room for improvement. He is 22 years old, he has to work like this knowing that he can improve.

“He is a young guy, he has some good qualities and good potential, he needs to try and be even meaner when he has a chance because a good forward is the one who gets in and scores a goal with just the slightest window of opportunity.

“It’s a just a process of growth for Lautaro. He’s a guy who wants to work and improve. He needs to be determined in shaping his own path, as it could be one that goes all the way to the top.”

Valentino Lazaro was the next topic of the press conference, with Conte being quizzed on the Austrian’s struggles and whether a loan may happen.

“I have already spoken with him. He is a young boy, who has a lot of qualities. He is among the most promising Austrian players. Last year he did not have the same level of pressure at Hertha Berlin that he does at Inter. We must have patience.

“He is working but it is inevitable that we will have to give him a chance from the beginning. We spent €20 million on him and believe in him. We think he is a good investment who can grow.

“We will have to give him a chance and see what kind of response he gives. We also made investments in the likes of Stefano Sensi and Nicolo Barella, both of whom gave quick answers. He is just giving slower answers.”

Inter have drawn strong links to Nemanja Matic and when quizzed on the Serbian, Conte was quick to downplay things.

“I’m not one for talking about other players because I would lack respect for him, his club and for my players. I have great affection for those who led me to success in the past something but I would disrespect my players by talking about others and it is the last thing I want do.”

In the second to last question, he was asked if he has arrived in a similar situation to when he arrived at Juventus in 2011/12.

“There is an important difference, we did not have European football that year. We could dedicate our heart and soul to the league. Now though, we play in the league, then the Champions League. It is not the same thing, it takes a lot of energy.

“We have to go at a thousand miles per hour, because if we take the foot off the accelerator it is difficult to win the game. We need to go to 2,000. We are not a team that was built to manage games; rather we must try and get the win through sheer effort and sweat.”

In conclusion, he was asked about the respective conditions of the several players currently out of action due to injury.

“Vecino trained with the group yesterday, and Ranocchia also rejoined the group. Sensi should take part in today’s training, we will need to wait regarding Sanchez. D’Ambrosio is training, it depends on his sensitivity and his own pain management, but we’re confident that we’ll have him back soon.”