Antonio Conte has taken aim at the Italian Press for stirring “hatred and dissatisfaction” ahead of Inter’s Serie A clash with Lazio tomorrow.
Inter face arch-rivals Juventus in the Derby d’Italia on October 6, and there have already been articles suggesting the Coach will be in for a hostile reception against his former club.
“Lazio are a challenging obstacle, one of the most difficult of this season,” he said at a Press conference.
Antonio Conte has taken aim at the Italian Press for stirring “hatred and dissatisfaction” ahead of Inter’s Serie A clash with Lazio tomorrow.
Inter face arch-rivals Juventus in the Derby d’Italia on October 6, and there have already been articles suggesting the Coach will be in for a hostile reception against his former club.
“Lazio are a challenging obstacle, one of the most difficult of this season,” he said at a Press conference.
“They’re a team with their own identity, they’ve been working with Simone Inzaghi for several years. He’s a very good Coach, one who’s maybe underrated.
“We’ll have to be careful because our opponents are strong and have improved over the years, bearing witness to the fact that they have a great project.
“It’ll be a complicated game tomorrow so everyone will need to push. I’ve read some articles that talk about the upcoming Inter-Juventus as a match where I’ll be showered with insults.
“I’m stunned because whoever writes and talks should have more of a conscience and understand what causes provocation, what feelings they transmit to the reader.
“If I was the editor of the newspaper, I’d kick their backsides. Whoever writes and communicates things has an extra responsibility because everything is reported by social media and it feeds a spiral of hatred and dissatisfaction.
“It really bothers me to see this or someone suggest insulting a person during a game.”
The 49-year-old was then asked about his squad and, in particular, Nicolo Barella.
“Godin played against Udinese and then rested in the Champions League. De Vrij had a bit of fatigue but can play.
“These lads have trained and are fine. I’ll have to make decisions, taking everything into consideration. I’ll also have to take risks.
“We have to go game by game. Let us focus on today because tomorrow is uncertain. Tomorrow will be a very difficult match against a very strong team with a clear identity.
“They’ve been protagonists in recent years and their Coppa Italia victory is a testament to the work done by the club and the Coach. For us, that’s more proof.
“I see proclamations and easy situations. After only four games, we’re already talking about this and that.
“I have the right experience to say that this was done deliberately to give us some stab wounds.
“We’ll have to be good at keeping our feet on the ground because it won’t be easy. There are two teams: Napoli weren’t backed but are very strong.
“Juventus are very, very strong. After that, we begin to consider the others, including Inter.
“Barella has precise characteristics and plenty of room to grow. He’s as generous as I was, he’s a lad who radiates energy from all his pores.
“We’ll have to be good at channelling the energy into the places we want. He’s a lad who has a lot of potential, he works hard and has made himself available.
“He has all the ingredients to become a pillar for Inter.”