Conte: "Our attacking play was good, but we need to be more balanced"

MILAN - The 2020/21 Serie A season got off to a lively and dramatic start for Antonio Conte’s Inter as they ran out 4-3 winners against Fiorentina. The lead kept changing hands, with Kouame scoring early for the visitors before Lautaro was involved in the two goals that fired Inter ahead. Castrovilli and Chiesa then turned things around after being set up by Ribery. Just as things seemed lost, Lukaku and D’Ambrosio were able to net two late goals that were worth three points after great assists from the substitutes Sanchez and Hakimi. Sensi, Vidal and Nainggolan also made an impact off the bench.

“The changes had a positive impact, I’m happy and the guys know it,” said the Coach. “It will be a long and tiring season. There will be space for everyone and we’ll need everybody.

“The three points are important, we had lots of chances and we found a way to score four goals. This is the positive side of things but, at the same time, we can’t concede three goals like that. The team was playing on the front foot too before things turned around. Our attacking play was good and it caused serious issues for Fiorentina, but you need to stay balanced when attacking. In this respect, we lacked focus and we need to improve. If you want to have a top-quality season, balance is the foundation of everything. Today, we had a new-look defence, but it’s up to the whole side to defend in the right way.

"We’ve gained credibility on an international level after what we did last season, when we brought Inter back to where the Club deserves to be. Irrespective of results, there’s a path to go down, and seeing the players grow from a mental point of view is the most important thing for a coach. The lads displayed desire and a sense of pride, we want to continue on this path to bring joy to our fans.”

Finally, the Coach spoke about individuals: “Hakimi has important characteristics, he only arrived a short time ago and needs to work on the defensive side of things, but he’s doing very well offensively. I thought that I’d send him on after the restart because I know that he can be decisive in the spaces when fatigue starts to kick in. He has quality, which is why we brought him in. Eriksen? Compared to when he first arrived, he’s gone up a few gears, he’s playing in his ideal position. I think that he played well, we’re working with him because we know that he has important qualities. I have confidence in him, he trains really well and makes himself available for the team. I hope that he is able to quickly find that spark that will see him reach maximum levels.”