Conte: "We controlled the match"

GENOA – Inter returned to winning ways this evening after beating Genoa 2-0 on matchday five in Serie A. The Nerazzurri dominated the match at the Ferraris and were finally able to break through in the second half thanks to goals from Lukaku and D’Ambrosio, allowing Antonio Conte’s side to take home the three points.

This is what the Inter Coach had to say following the match:

Was it a victory that came about thanks to the patience that Inter showed? "We controlled the match from the very beginning. We took to the pitch with the aim of taking charge of matters, just like we did in our previous matches. Sometimes, you can break the deadlock straight away. On other occasions, however, you need a bit more time. We also performed well against Borussia and only allowed them to have two efforts on goal, one of which was a penalty. Today, Genoa didn’t even have a shot, and there’s the satisfaction of knowing that we took to the pitch aware of what we’re capable of.”

How important was it not to concede and play in a balanced manner?   “We’ve actually never really allowed our opponents to have big opportunities. We’ve been punished for a few mistakes, but this is a team that has always displayed balance. You can talk about numbers, but I have to make a more clear-headed and precise analysis.”

There’s the impression that Inter are more aggressive with Bastoni on the pitch… "Bastoni has been working with us for more than a year and knows exactly when to make his move at the back. The newcomers also need time to get the hang of the work we’re doing, so I’m delighted with the arrival of players like Kolarov, who has brought experience and quality. We shouldn’t forget that we had very little time to prepare for the season and it’s normal that a few training sessions are needed to get certain situations in order. Usually, we’re able to hold a training camp, but we’ve immediately been put to the test in competitive fixtures. Ranocchia, D'Ambrosio and Darmian all played really well tonight. It seemed like Andrea would leave us during the transfer window, but he’s once again displayed what a great professional he is.”

Where does Lukaku rank when it comes to the best strikers in the world? "Romelu is now a different player: compared to a year ago, he’s improved in every respect. In the past, I said that he was a rough diamond, which is why he was always someone I wanted to work with. He’s improving on a daily basis and adding quality to his game. He’s also scoring on a consistent basis, something which, given that he’s a striker, certainly shouldn’t be overlooked.”

Is Eriksen playing in the wrong position? “I don’t like the fact that people are getting so caught up in speaking about Christian. He’s a player in our squad, just like all the others. He has certain characteristics and we’re trying to get the best out of him. It annoys me that he’s constantly spoken about: it’s certainly not a problem that he’s with us. He’s a positive lad and we’re helping him in every way possible so that he can play his best football. It’s not right that there are all these judgements: fairness needs to be shown towards the lad, Inter and myself.”