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Antonio Conte is about to finally win over the Inter fans. Taking a step closer to the Scudetto every day, the goal of returning the title to Milan after nine years of Juventus rule is in sight.
They are rampant and the statistics don’t lie. Across Europe, only Diego Simeone’s Atlético de Madrid and Pep Guardiola’s top-flight Manchester City have better point averages.
At both ends of the field, Inter are at top speed; they have conceded just once in their last seven league games, while scoring 17 in the same streak. That has helped them secure nine consecutive home wins. He would have to go back to 2011 to find a Nerazzurri outfit that does the same.
After months of yelling and fighting, Inter are finally getting back to Conte’s style of play and philosophy. Plus, it’s working too.
With Romelu Lukaku on a one-man demolition mission at one end and an insurmountable defense at the other, it’s hard to see where Inter’s rivals can turn for a ray of hope.
The era of the ‘contismo’ of Inter Milan
The ‘Contismo’ is the term that is given to the soccer philosophy of Conte; a mix of muscle and discipline and a mix of intensity and running that is at the heart of a very simple tactical scheme.
Antonio Conte’s 3-5-2 is the result of a very elementary vision that plans to flood the middle of the park, take advantage of large areas and take advantage of the explosiveness of Lukaku and Lautaro Martínez.
In Europe, this tactic doesn’t always pay off, but Conte has persevered. The Champions League has not been a priority, as evidenced by the two failed European campaigns under the former Chelsea manager.
Instead, ‘Contismo’ has been instilled as their core philosophy, with domination on the home front as the focus and a deployed tactic that can exploit the collective shortcomings of Serie A teams.
Lukaku has benefited the most from Conte’s concept. Acquiring the vision of his coach, he represents Inter’s main weapon in his mad rush to the Scudetto.
His 18 goals are unmatched in Italy’s top flight and have played a key role in ending Juventus’ hopes of a 10th consecutive title.
Count the merciful
The case of Christian Eriksen shows how Conte has a great human and professional quality: he does not hold a grudge.
With the former Juventus coach it is possible to fall, but then make amends within a training session, rebuilding a relationship with attention and concentration.
Eriksen’s struggles were well documented when he first arrived at Inter just over a year ago, and Conte went public with his perception of the Dane, describing his disappointment at his contribution at San Siro since arriving from Tottenham in January 2020.
However, the former Ajax wonder boy has been allowed back in, and Conte has deployed him as his own quarterback, filling an Andrea Pirlo-style role for the Italian champions on hold.
His aptitude for long balls offers a second pass idea in midfield and takes pressure off Marcelo Brozovic. From being a prisoner of Milan to becoming the director of midfield, Conte is to be commended for Eriksen’s transformation.
Ivan Perisic has also adapted to a new role and is instrumental on both ends of the field with his tireless work on the wing. Inter have found a new resource in the Croatian at the end of the season.
Conte repaired both stars’ mentality by relying on them in their starting lineup.
The Dane only stayed in Milan due to lack of offers and Conte decided to bet on him. Its form tells you everything you need to know about the success of the call.
The couple’s reinvention has been key in rejuvenating the club’s season, which went up in smoke in November.
Conte is also winning off the field
Conte has never shied away from adversity or a fight. At Inter, he has become used to choosing them with great characters.
Only last month was he embroiled in a furious touchline with Juventus owner and former boss Andrea Agnelli following Inter’s Coppa Italia semi-final clash.
However, it is the battles he has chosen a little closer to home that have been the most revealing.
The Inter coach lashed out at the club’s owners, Suning Holdings, in August for not backing him and his players after they finished the season in a respectable second.
He has not been shy about making his demands known in the transfer market, and convinced them to inject experience into the squad in the summer, with Aleksandar Kolarov and Arturo Vidal among the recruits.
In return, trophies were expected, a prospect that seemed far off in November.
Between having time to turn things around and Suning’s reluctance to fire a man who would cost them € 47 million to get rid of, Conte, the league’s most expensive head coach, came out of the storm and had time to inject his philosophy in your team.
Nor was it something that fans bought a lot at first: the hashtag #ConteOut was trending on Italian Twitter.
But slowly, with victory after victory, the tide turned in his favor. Now Conte is interacting with fans via social media, posting footage of game passages from Inter’s matches and asking for fans’ opinions.
It’s another example of him overcoming adversity, something he thrives on.
“When people talk about me, there is always a ‘but’. They say: “He’s a good coach, but …”; that ‘but’ stimulates me ‘, he recently told Il Corriere Della Sera.
‘I am more prepared thanks to my experiences. They advised me not to join Inter, but I like challenges, and this is the most difficult of my career.
‘It’s hard to change that mental chip. If you don’t win for 10 years, you unconsciously get used to the situation, look for excuses or blame someone else, you don’t see your limitations or flaws.
‘The environment is imbued with this, it is important to work not only on the players but in all sectors. So you turn up the pressure and you become a headache. ‘
In 43 years, only three coaches have so far lasted more than two full seasons at Inter.
They may just be hoping this pain in your butt will stick around for a little longer.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
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