Inter coach Antonio Conte spoke today at the Trento Sport Festival to gathered reporters including Italian media outlet FcInterNews, discussing the Italian national team and the season ahead of the Nerazzurri.

“I think that wearing the Italy shirt is the crowning moment of a dream. For a player to hear that anthem it’s a unique emotion because it means that they have reached a certain level. I wore the Italy shirt both as a footballer and a coach. As a coach it gives you a lot of emotions, because you are a coach with loads of enormous responsibility. You feel an entire country blowing behind you and giving you unique emotions and a lot of responsibility at the same time. I think I was very lucky to wear the shirt as a footballer and as a coach.”

The 50-year-old Italian then discussed his work with the squad at the European Championships in 2016.

“I remember very well that we were able to work three and a half weeks together and the most important thing was to form a group in which each player would give his life for the other. We beat Spain to reach the quarterfinals, they had been undefeated for some time, they were world champions and then European champions. It was a great game, although there was not great quality in our squad, we managed to find 23 men who were happy to work together, help each other in the difficulties because we had injuries, playing against Germany we would have to invent something in midfield. What I have left of that experience is that so many times ‘want is power’ and that time we all wanted to. I was very excited. I remember that the next morning before saying goodbye we all cried because we knew that the next day, we would not see each other. It had created a beautiful alchemy beyond the professional and football relationship. We wouldn’t have beaten teams like Belgium or Spain if there hadn’t been values, it was very emotional, and I remember that squad with great affection. I hadn’t already signed with Chelsea; I would surely have continued that experience with the guys because it had created a unity of purpose that was difficult to leave.”

Conte spoke of what a coach has to say before difficult games.

“You certainly try to transfer the kind of difficulty you expect to find, including the positive and negative aspects of certain games. I remember that before Spain all the criticism was that we were doomed, thinking that there was no chance for us. During the conference, however, I said very clearly that the game would be played and that Spain to move forward would have to beat us and prove to be stronger. I had positive feelings, then clearly you have to prepare well from a tactical point of view but also psychological, transferring positivity to the guys. You know very well that you’re playing a prohibitive game in some ways but if on the other hand the coach doesn’t convey optimism it becomes difficult. The victory against Spain came from a series of triumphs, winning was a great joy that gave us more awareness of our potential.”

He touched on what he expects from the current Italy squad.

“I think that Italy has started a process and Roberto [Mancini] and the players are doing very well. We need to be optimistic because there are so many young players who need to play and gain experience in competitions. I’m still very optimistic because the process started in the best possible way with competent players. We clubs need to accelerate this growth. I have four in my team, Sensi, Biraghi, D’Ambrosio and Barella. We have the task of working on them and making them even more ready for the present and for the future.”

Finally, Conte gave his thoughts on Inter’s season ahead and if the fans should believe that someone can take the league title from Juventus.

“I think it doesn’t cost anything to believe, not for Inter fans, nor for Napoli, nor for anyone. Believing costs nothing but you have to be objective in looking at reality and seeing what awaits us. I don’t think I waited for the match against Juventus to find out something, I think I made it clear in advance by saying that there are two teams ahead, Juventus at the top and also Napoli, have built and done a lot in recent years. Today there is this gap and it is difficult to question it, for our part there is certainly the fact that we have begun a type of path, something that through work, seriousness and clarity we want to progress and improve over time to return to competition and give satisfaction to our fans. We need to be courageous and have a clear vision of the present and of what the future can become. There is only one verb I know and that we need to know at Inter that is working, working hard to try to be heroes. We must not set ourselves limits but be honest in recognising that certain values do not mean not fighting.”

The post Inter Coach Antonio Conte: “We All Cried Before Saying Goodbye To Each Other At Euro 2016” appeared first on Sempreinter.

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