Bonucci: 'Conte was perfect for Juve'

By Football Italia staff

Leonardo Bonucci described why Antonio Conte “was perfect for Juventus” and “it was easy to foresee” he’d have the same influence on Inter.

These teams meet on Sunday at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT), click here for a match preview.

This is a top of the table showdown with only two point separating them, but is above all the first time Conte has faced Juve in a competitive match since his three-term winning streak in Turin.

“What Conte gave me was hunger, the desire to never give in, the mentality that allows you to go beyond pain to reach your objectives,” Bonucci told Sky Sport Italia.

“He drilled that into us from the first day. Conte was perfect for that Juventus: he needed a chance with a big club and we had to get back to being great after Calciopoli. We needed someone like him, who could make us understand what it meant to wear that jersey.

“After three top years together, our paths separated and we continued the growth process elsewhere, but maintained a relationship.”

Now Conte is trying to have the same effect on Inter and they have started the season with six Serie A wins out of six.

“Inter started the season very well, which was indeed easy to foresee after the arrival of Conte. They’re a great team, they have top players and their system allows everyone to express themselves in the best way.”

The Nerazzurri lost their Champions League trip to Barcelona 2-1, but had taken the lead through Lautaro Martinez.

“At Camp Nou they put Barcelona in trouble for an hour, always playing the ball forward, but you can’t pick a favourite in a game like this.”

Juve also have a new Coach and are still getting to grips with Maurizio Sarri’s tactics.

“This season, we defend zonally in space. At the start, we had to overcome some difficulties but we’re working well now: our growth won’t end here.

“Matthijs de Ligt is very strong for his age. He arrived full of expectations, but he’s humble. He has everything to become one of the best in the world.”

Bonucci started out in the Inter youth academy, while last season he moved to Milan only to return to Turin a year later.

“What matters most of all at Juve is the sense of belonging, the attachment to the shirt.

“Coming back here empowered me as a man: when you leave this club, you realise what you’ve lost. Embracing them again gave me indescribable joy.”

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