Conte: "Tough result, need to pay more attention to the details but the team is still in constant growth"

MADRID - On Matchday 3 in the group stages of the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League, goals from Lautaro and Perisic brought Inter back level after Benzema and Sergio Ramos fired Real Madrid ahead. It wasn’t enough however for the Nerazzurri to leave the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano with a result. Rodrygo’s goal ten minutes from time proved fatal with Inter now on two points in Group B after half the fixtures have been played.

Here was what Antonio Conte though after the match:

Were you satisfied with the performance? What prevented the side from getting a result?

"The result of course leaves a bitter taste in the mouth but these matches show that the team is improving. I don’t know how many teams would have the character to play this sort of game in Madrid. We went down by two, brought it back and could have made it 3-2. This team is taking strides to grow in all aspects. Unfortunately, the results aren’t rewarding us but these sort of performances have to give us more confidence and strength in our desire to return to being a respected team. The group is improving on the European stage but there are no shortcuts, we just need to pay more attention to the small details. We go home with a tough result but we’re convinced of what we can do. We played an excellent game against a side such as Real Madrid who had been talking of the match as though it was a final for three days."

Is there an explanation for the team’s errors?

"There’s not a lot to say. We gifted them both goals. There was a misplaced backpass - and a foul on Hakimi by Mendy. Then Ramos got the better of us; we know he’s good in those situations and needed to mark him more closely. The boys need to pay more attention to the details because they make the difference at this level."

Is qualification still possible?

"There are nine points still to play for. We knew this was the most difficult group in the Champions League. We have three games left and we’ll do everything to get to the next round because this team has proved it can play against anyone. Maybe with a bit more luck. We need to keep working, conscious of the fact that this is the right path."