Antonio Conte snapped at reporters to ‘think before asking questions’ and explained his choices in Inter’s Champions League exit to Shakhtar Donetsk.
The Nerazzurri would’ve qualified for the Round of 16 if they had beaten Shakhtar Donetsk at San Siro, but only managed a 0-0 draw.
Shakhtar built their success with home and away victories against Real Madrid, scoring in total just five goals in six games.
Antonio Conte snapped at reporters to ‘think before asking questions’ and explained his choices in Inter’s Champions League exit to Shakhtar Donetsk.
The Nerazzurri would’ve qualified for the Round of 16 if they had beaten Shakhtar Donetsk at San Siro, but only managed a 0-0 draw.
Shakhtar built their success with home and away victories against Real Madrid, scoring in total just five goals in six games.
On the other hand, Inter drew 0-0 both in Ukraine and at San Siro and it’s the first time ever they have finished bottom of their Champions League group.
Conte was visibly irritated when interviewed by Sky Sport Italia after the game and immediately snapped at reporters who asked if there was a lack of determination for a must-win fixture.
“You can have your opinion, I respect that. I do not agree, because I think the team gave all it had, did all it needed to. It’s incredible that over two games that we dominated against Shakhtar, we didn’t score a single goal.
“I don’t agree we lacked determination at all. My players gave their all tonight, so I absolutely do not agree.
“We have to evaluate everything with cool heads, not after an exit like this. There is a great deal of regret and disappointment, but I absolutely do not feel we were lacking determination, focus or aggression.
“We lacked a goal and throughout the Champions League campaign, we have not been fortunate with referees and the VAR. If you go back and look at all the situations that were not seen or evaluated, then…
“Having said that, there is disappointment because we had the chances, but if you don’t score goals, you don’t win.”
Sky pundit Fabio Capello said there was not the determination, the desire to win at all costs, but Conte just shrugged.
“I have no response to that.”
Conte was asked about the substitutions, as he didn’t make any until Ivan Perisic at the 68th minute for Ashley Young.
Alexis Sanchez replaced Roberto Gagliardini at the 75th, then Christian Eriksen, Matteo Darmian and Danilo D’Ambrosio were last-gasp attempts on 86 minutes.
“I introduced Alexis Sanchez with 20 minutes to go including stoppages. We would’ve been unbalanced with three strikers, but then I think Lautaro ran out of steam. In midfield, those were the players I had.
“It was either Alexis or Eriksen for Gagliardini, but I preferred to add another striker and go for the win. When I saw Lautaro was out of steam, I introduced Eriksen.”
When Conte was asked how come Inter drew 0-0 with Shakhtar both home and away when they beat this team 5-0 in the Europa League semi-final in August, his mood turned even more sour.
“Shakhtar came here and transformed their tactics against us in order to neutralise us. They lost 5-0, so that’s why they changed. Think before asking questions!”
The presenter Conte snapped at was Anna Billò, who is married to PSG director Leonardo.
Capello then asked do you actually have a Plan B when things don’t work, seeing as Shakhtar changed to face him?
“We do have a Plan B, but I won’t talk about it here, otherwise that’ll be a total disaster and that’ll get neutralised too.”