Conte casts doubt over Inter future
Antonio Conte may very well have managed Internazionale for the last time, according to reports.
The Nerrazzuri outfit were beaten 3-2 by Sevilla in the Europa League final in Germany, bringing an end to a season which was themed by ‘nearly’ performances, Daily Times reports.
The San Siro outfit had given Juventus a stiff test for a greater part of the just concluded season, but caved following a string of poor performances which saw them overtaken by Lazio. Conte’s men returned from the compulsory break occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic with renewed energy, overtaking Lazio in the final exchanges to clinch second place.
Inter had made it into the Europa League through the backdoor having crashed out of the UEFA Champions League; but, with Manchester United’s elimination in the semi-final stage of the competition, many had tipped Inter as overwhelming favorites.
The defeat to Sevilla will come as a bitter pill to swallow, having come close to tasting glory on several fronts. For Antonio Conte, who has fired hard at the Club’s directors in recent months. This could very well be the end of the road.
Speaking after the defeat, the Italian, Conte, was less than optimistic about his chances of running point next term.
“We’re going to meet next week with the club and we’ll decide about my future. I’m not sure that I’ll be the Inter manager next season, we’ll decide together,” he told Sky Sport Italia . “Inter will plan the future with or without me.”
Conte’s future has been in doubt since the conclusion of the Serie A campaign earlier this month, after which he launched a scathing attack on the club’s directors.
“I don’t think the work of the players has been recognised and I don’t think my work has been recognised,” he said.
“We all received very little protection from the club, absolutely zero.
“I don’t like it when people jump on the bandwagon – they have to be there in the good times as well as the bad and here at Inter it wasn’t like that, I’m sorry to say.
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“We have to grow and improve in all areas, including off the field, and a big club should protect its players more.”
After Friday’s game in Cologne, Inter president Steven Zhang did little to ease fears over the future of the 51-year-old.
“He and his staff, together with the players and all the other members of the club are doing a great job,” he told Sky Sport Italia .
“Now the players and the staff will rest, because they deserve it, and then we will plan for the future.
“We want to improve next season. The balance of this season is very positive. We are on a path that has allowed us to get to the final.
“All of us, on and off the pitch, are doing a great job and are heading in the right direction.
“Winning or losing is part of football, but getting to the final makes us optimistic for the future.”
