Antonio Conte believes it will be “important” to end the year at the top of the table and that the club is building “a solid and lasting foundation”.
Ahead of their final match of 2019, Inter are three points behind Juventus in Serie A but could catch up with them if they beat Genoa at San Siro tomorrow.
“I always said it was important for us to arrive at Christmas in the best possible way,” Conte said at a press conference.
Antonio Conte believes it will be “important” to end the year at the top of the table and that the club is building “a solid and lasting foundation”.
Ahead of their final match of 2019, Inter are three points behind Juventus in Serie A but could catch up with them if they beat Genoa at San Siro tomorrow.
“I always said it was important for us to arrive at Christmas in the best possible way,” Conte said at a press conference.
“We’ve had some problems and we are facing them in the right way. The fact that they emerged made the group and the players very responsible, they understood that they had to give more.
“It would be a great sign for us and for the whole environment. I was very worried, because we were forced to make decisions, always focus on the players themselves and take great risks.
“I said we had to get to Christmas in the best way. I think we are there, it would be fantastic if we could win the game in such a significant emergency.”
Because of some players in doubt and the ones who are definitely absent from his squad, the former Chelsea boss said he would have to wait until tomorrow to pick his XI.
“We will make some assessments during the last hours, we are even less covered because of the suspensions on [Marcelo] Brozovic and Lautaro Martinez.
“In these situations, we are able to give our best, I am sure that tomorrow, with the help of the public, we will do our best to finish the year in the best possible way.”
Teenagers Sebastiano Esposito and Lucien Agoume have been thrust into the first team as a result, and Conte has faith in their ability to “always give their all” for the Nerazzurri.
“Those two have had the opportunity to train with us and have had a significant development, especially Esposito, but also Agoume.
“They are young, they have deservedly made their debuts. They are growing up and are two guys who could potentially become part of the foundations at Inter for years to come.
“I believe in them, I hope and know that, regardless of everything, the answer will always be positive. They always give their all.
“Since the beginning of the year, our goal has always been to become a credible team,” he added. “The opponents should know that it will be a tough game against us.
“We have started a journey and are still working on it. We know very well that along the way you can hit a rough patch and obstacles that will try to stop you. We must be good at continuing through those.
“It will need patience, mostly from me. We must build, sometimes even if you win you are destroying something. Sometimes the win deceives you and you know that underneath you are being destroyed.
“We must lay a solid and lasting foundation, something that can become important over time.
“In five months, we’ve worked hard, given a lot and spending a lot. I have never found anything already prepared, that’s my story. We are doing a great job.
“It will be important to leave a trace, as I have already said. Work culture and professionalism. We will have to leave this behind when they get tired of us.”