Conte: “We’ve got a very difficult game ahead of us but we’re going into it with the right enthusiasm”

APPIANO GENTILE – Inter are currently putting in the final preparations for their second away game of the week. After Thursday night’s success in Ferrara over SPAL, the Nerazzurri head to Rome for their next league fixture at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday 19 July (21:45 CEST kick-off). With one day left until the game, Antonio Conte spoke about his pre-match thoughts on the game and on Fonseca’s team: “We’re talking about a well-equipped side, a squad full of excellent players and a great coach. It’s a very difficult game that arrives just two days after our away game with SPAL, so we’ve had to deal with the travelling and one day less to recover, but from a positive point of view we’re full of enthusiasm after seeing that the work we’re doing is starting to be recognised.”

On the situation in attack and midfield and the injury front: “This is something we’ve unfortunately had to deal since the start of the season. After a bad injury to Sanchez’s ankle we were without Alexis for four to five months, while it’s also been a tough year in midfield due to recurring injuries. Just thinking about Sensi, he’s a player who we’ve had for so little time, or the bad injuries to Gagliardini and Barella, Vecino too who’s had constant trouble with his knee. These are two areas of the pitch that have caused both me and us problems, but looking at the glass as half full, those who have played have shown and are continuing to show big responses, I’m talking about players like Gagliardini, Brozovic and Borja Valero, then we’ve got Eriksen who’s settling in. I think that there are definitely positives to be taken.”

Finally a word on Fonseca’s Roma, a side with various strong points: “They’ve changed their tactical set-up a bit, at first they used to play in a 4-2-3-1, now instead they’re playing with three at the back and two attacking midfielders in behind Dzeko, who’s a big outlet for them up top. Then they’ve got Mkhitaryan who’s rediscovered the form he used to have, Pellegrini’s playing well and they also have widemen like Spinazzola and Zappacosta who I had at Chelsea. They’re a good team with a good squad. Even in midfield Veretout and Diawara provide a lot of consistency, quality and substance to their play. They’re a very good team who set out with the goal of having a big season, so we’ll need to be very careful.”