VICTORY IS INTER-GRAL
Conte demanding winning habit
ANTONIO CONTE called on his Inter Milan players to make winning an “obsession” after the Serie A title winners produced a five-star display to sink Sampdoria.
Conte masterminded Inter’s title triumph for the first time in 11 years last weekend and thousands of jubilant fans greeted the team ahead of their first game since clinching the Scudetto outside the San Siro yesterday. The
champions then went on to put Sampdoria to the sword and celebrated on the pitch after the match. And Conte called for his side to keep the winning habit going after ending Juventus’ dominance.
The victory took Inter onto 85 points – their highest tally since 2008 – with three games to play and ex-Chelsea boss Conte said: “The motivation is and must be that victory must always enter the players’ brains. It must become an obsession.
“I think I surpassed myself over the last two years. I had to put all of myself into this title win. It wasn’t the biggest achievement, but it was the most difficult of my career.
“We have done something special after 11 years without a title. But we have worked hard. Behind this success there is a lot of suffering from everyone.
“We have restored credibility to the club. Now I want to enjoy this Scudetto from here to the end.”
Even with top goalscorer Romelu Lukaku given a rest, the goals flowed. Former Manchester United misfit
Alexis Sanchez scored twice as Inter coasted home in Conte’s 200th Serie A match as a manager.
Roberto Gagliardini opened the scoring before Sanchez scored two in the space of 10 minutes. Rookie Andrea Pinamonti added a fourth with his first Inter
goal before Lautaro Martinez’s penalty.
Claudio Ranieri’s midtable side scored a consolation from Keita Balde. Ranieri said. “We wanted to do well. And we tried to do what was in our hearts, but Inter managed everything brilliantly.”