Conte: “We want to continue this good run, we'll fight to win”

APPIANO GENTILE – A first press conference of the year for Antonio Conte, who spoke to journalists ahead of Inter vs. Crotone on matchday 15 in Serie A. The game at the Meazza kicks off at 12:30 CET tomorrow.

What type of game will it be?

We need to expect a very tough game, as are all games in the Italian top flight. We’re playing against a team that will be galvanised from their win at the end of the year against Parma. We need to realise that it’s always an unknown when you restart after the holidays but we know how important it is to keep this run of wins going.

The table looks good. What are you saying to the team and what are the expectations?

We need to confirm our status as being in the title race, continue to fight and remain among that group of teams fighting for the Scudetto.

Do you think this Inter side has the strength and quality to compete until the end?

We need to believe. When you play for or you’re the coach, you need to believe that you can fight until the end to reach the top.

What does it mean to be nine points ahead of Juventus? Can that push the team even more?

What we’ve seen thus far is a very equal league. You need to play each game to win. In the end, values like hard work and organisation will come to the fore. These are all components that will take us to the title.

What didn’t work for Nainggolan?

I wish Radja all the best for the second part of the season, I have a lot of affection for him.

Seven wins in a row and second place. In Verona, your vision for Inter was evident. Is the team as you want it, are you happy with the development and what needs to be improved?

This is a team that can play in various different ways, as we have done with Sanchez in behind the strikers. After a year and a half of work, we can see all of the possible variations. The important thing is that the concepts, on which we have always based our footballing culture, don’t deviate from what we’ve prepared. What we have done is build a solid base and various solutions that are known to each player.

A few years ago, Trapattoni was top at the end of the first half of the season with that record-breaking Inter side and decided that they needed to believe in the Scudetto. How important is it that the team is even more convinced of their own strengths?

I want to take the chance to salute Trapattoni, who was not just a coach for me but like a second father. He did great things for this Club - he’s an icon and made history in Italian football. I hope to do things as great as he did.

We saw a different set-up in Verona, with Vidal at the end of the game; what can he give you in that position?

When Vidal came on, he redefined that position; it changes our shape when we’re out of possession. In that case, Verona played with three centre-backs and two midfielders, so we went for numerical parity with Perisic and then Vidal behind the two strikers and a 2v2 in midfield. When we didn’t have possession, we saw this, but Arturo’s position is still in midfield. He’s great without the ball and can attack, so he can excel in that role.

After the Champions League exit, there was a risk of a slump but that didn’t happen. What do you ask of your players in this period of growth?

I always ask a lot of my players because every footballer can improve. I want them to improve in all aspects: at a tactical level, mentality, in their behaviour on and off the pitch. I want to see excellence because if you want to do well, you need to perform well.