Antonio Conte insists “there’s no need to shed light” on reports that he was close to leaving Chelsea for Inter earlier in the summer.
Conte was heavily linked with the Inter job but ultimately signed a new contract with Chelsea, and the Coach made it clear he was only thinking about leading the Blues to more success next season.
“Inter? They’re doing very well, I already see a team with an identity,” he told Tuttomercatoweb.
Antonio Conte insists “there’s no need to shed light” on reports that he was close to leaving Chelsea for Inter earlier in the summer.
Conte was heavily linked with the Inter job but ultimately signed a new contract with Chelsea, and the Coach made it clear he was only thinking about leading the Blues to more success next season.
“Inter? They’re doing very well, I already see a team with an identity,” he told Tuttomercatoweb.
“All this creates confidence for Inter’s future. The Nerazzurri played with great intensity and the right pace against Bayern Munich.
“We won the title last season, that’s certain. As for the next one, you know very well what’s happened in the Premier League over the past couple of years.
“After Chelsea won it, Leicester did. That’s why we must pay close attention.
“Was I close to joining Inter? There’s no need to shed light on this topic.
“I had another two years on my contract with Chelsea, and I decided to keep going with them because it was the right thing to do.
“I have a job to do for this club. I don’t think it’s important to talk about [whether I could’ve left] now.
“What matters is my happiness at Chelsea, so much so that I’ve just renewed my contract with them.
“Juventus? I prefer not to discuss Serie A, I just want to think about the English League.
“Rudiger? Yes, he’ll certainly find room. He’ll play a part in the game, he’s only just arrived. I still have to decide whether he’ll start or come on later.”
Conte then discussed Italy’s decisive 2018 World Cup qualifier against Spain in September, having guided the Azzurri to victory over La Roja at Euro 2016.
“Italy-Spain in September? You have to be confident,” he added.
“We showed at the Euros that we could beat Spain, without forgetting the draw in Udinese. We deserved to win there too.
“I think we have every chance of winning, we must play without fear and have confidence in ourselves.
“There’s nothing else we can do: we have to play without any excuses.”