Antonio Conte says Inter respect Real Madrid and hints Alexis Sanchez is not fit to start against the Merengues.
“It’s a game of the group stage, definitely important for us and for them. Both aspire to go ahead, it will be a difficult match against a team equipped to win,” Conte told Sky Sport.
“It’s about having our own identity. We have great respect for the Real but we want to play our cards, then the best will win.”
Antonio Conte says Inter respect Real Madrid and hints Alexis Sanchez is not fit to start against the Merengues.
“It’s a game of the group stage, definitely important for us and for them. Both aspire to go ahead, it will be a difficult match against a team equipped to win,” Conte told Sky Sport.
“It’s about having our own identity. We have great respect for the Real but we want to play our cards, then the best will win.”
Zizou Zidane said Conte made ‘a great impression’ when he studied to become a coach and remembers how important the former midfielder was as captain for Juventus. Was it the same for Conte?
“We’re talking about an exceptional person, no need to talk about him as a player because we all know him," Conte said.
“He worked so hard, he was always in the first row during trainings, despite the great talent he had.
“He is a great person, I can only talk wee about him. He has always been loved by everyone.”
Inter are without Romelu Lukaku but it seems hard that Alexis Sanchez can replace him tomorrow.
"I definitely can’t say it. I can say that today he came back to training today for the first time. You can imagine…”
During a pre-match press conference, Conte revealed he was close to becoming the coach of Real Madrid in the past