Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan have been hotly tipped to disrupt Juventus’ Serie A monopoly in 2019/2020. The Nerazurri have laid down the marker for the season.
Their new ex-Chelsea gaffer is back in Italian football having taken a full season away after his English escapade. His time in England not only brought League and FA cup winners medals but a tactical innovation in the Premier League.
Having maintained a 65.1% win rate at Chelsea; this serial winner is back to the origins of his famous 3-5-2 tactical set-up. The formation is common-place in Italy but no one utilizes it quite like Antonio.
Antonio Conte won three consecutive scudetti at Juve then pitched the same methods when leading the Italy national team to Euro 2016. Success abroad only won Conte more respect at home, and Inter Milan are set for a return to glory days with a revitalized Conte at the helm.
The first signs of a devastating team were laid down in Inter Milan’s season-opener against promoted Lecce at the Giuseppe Meazza. Record-signing Romelu Lukaku led the line admirably and marked his home debut with a poacher’s goal.
The Belgian is a dedicated player and this link up with Conte would work wonders for the club. Lukaku is a striker who gives his all to be the team’s focal point and his battling performances up front are the proper elements needed to take Inter beyond the final push for success.
Big Rom has Lautaro Martínez for company in attack and their partnership already looks promising. Conte also has Matteo Politano as a backup option.
Marcelo Brozović scoring against Lecce. Image Credit: Alberto Lingria/ Xinhua. |
They have a midfield consisting the likes of Stefano Sensi, Marcelo Brozović, Nicolò Barella, Matías Vecino; flanked by Kwadwo Asamoah (a Conte lieutenant at Juve) and Antonio Candreva who scored a 30-yard screamer to complete the scoring against Lecce.
The three-man defence against Lecce was marshalled by Milan Škriniar, Andrea Ranocchia and Danilo D’Ambrosio protecting Samir Handanović in goal. While the squad boasts quality and winning mentality in Stefan de Vrij and Diego Godin.
Conte has a balanced squad filled with potential and his uncanny ability to maximise quality, due to his high demands for work rate and application, makes Inter more than mere challengers on paper.
His team can wrestle the title from Juventus whose primary focus is on European silverware this season.
Romelu Lukaku is a natural goalscorer. Image Credit: EPA |
Alexis Sánchez is tipped to join the Nerrazuri in an enormous addition of quality; Inter Milan have well bounced back from their decline since the 2010 treble.
Similar to the circumstances when taking over at Juventus and Chelsea, a fiery Italian manager is ready for another assault.
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