Conte: 'A different Inter game'

By Football Italia staff

Antonio Conte believes Inter “have a lot we need to improve, but we’re also glad we won” in a difficult trip to Cagliari.

The Nerazzurri maintained their 100 per cent record, along with Juventus and Torino, with a 2-1 victory in Sardinia.

“It was a different game to the win against Lecce, as I had warned everyone this would be tough. Coming to Cagliari is never a walk in the park,” said the Coach in his Press conference.

“Let it be known, I am very demanding and there is a lot we need to do in order to improve, but I also say we are glad to have won in a difficult arena.

“Cagliari played their game and did it well, but this is a very important result, as it carries on from the performance against Lecce, but we should’ve ‘killed’ it more after conceding their equaliser. We did well to get back on top, but there’s more we can do.

“This team was built to play with midfielders pushing forward into the channels, like Matias Vecino, Stefano Sensi, Roberto Gagliardini and Nicolò Barella.

“Alexis Sanchez is an excellent player and he is in decent shape, but will go on international duty now and play only the first game with Chile against Argentina, put some minutes in his legs. We must get him back to the level he was at Udinese and Barcelona.”

Barella was again only a substitute, even against his old club, so what does the former Cagliari man need to do?

“He is talented with a lot of quality, but he’s 23 and settling into a new idea of football compared to what he did up until this season. He was more of an attack dog, as it were, and I do see myself in him. He’s a great signing, he just needs time to adapt.

“Sensi is a different type of player, someone who sees the game beautifully, you tell him something and he gets it straight away. Every Coach would love to have someone like Sensi in their team.”

Romelu Lukaku converted a penalty to win the game, but Cagliari fans once again disgraced themselves with racist abuse only months after the incident with Juventus striker Moise Kean here.

“We need to improve a great deal in Italy and be more respectful to people who are working, in general. When I was working abroad, the fans would cheer on their own team, not spend their entire time insulting the opponent.”

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