Long editorial by Arrigo Sacks on the columns of La Gazzetta dello Sport. The former coach speaks thus of Antonio Conte:
“Sevilla win the Europa League, they are more ready and organized. Defeats are sorry but they can be an incentive to improve. Spanish football has been more evolved and successful than Italian football for over a decade. Antonio Conte is doing an excellent job, the Nerazzurri are growing. This defeat could be another way to become even better. Lopetegui’s men won with merit by showing knowledge, innovation and courage. Inter played with three defenders almost exclusively in charge of the defensive phase, as is customary in our history. Sevilla had only two defenders, so there was one more man in the game. For over 60 years, Italian football has been mainly defensive and prudent: first defend yourself then we’ll see. We avoid the risk, but without falling into routine and the past, we move away from the future and optimism. Pessimism inhibits the right hemisphere in charge of creativity, it does not help growth or self-esteem. Sevilla played with two central defenders, two full-backs who were actually two wings, three midfielders who alternated often changing positions and three forwards, two of whom were very mobile. The Spanish team today is ahead and more organized. He has no champion but plays harmonious and imaginative football which increases his creativity, communication, collaboration and synergy “.
GROWTH – “We grow more in building than in destroying. Antonio must have patience, in recent times the Nerazzurri have improved a lot in their game, organization and courage. The automatisms are not yet at the top, it will take a little more time. I am sure that Conte will be able to make the team internalize their football. Lately the pressing, the compactness and the organicity of the team have improved. This defeat can serve to achieve an evolution faster. I think that Inter are not very far from achieving a football of domination and amalgamation. Football that is mainly played in Europe and around the world. The meeting with Sevilla had an exciting and fun first half. The Nerazzurri, not all used to these levels, were very nervous, demonstrating insecurity. The first half ended 2-2 with Sevilla superior for harmony and ball possession. The second half saw the two teams play at a slow pace, both waiting for the opponent’s error. In the end, the team with the most evolved and fun collective won. Today Inter are very close to a more European football. In Italy we should aspire to a less defensive football that does not leave initiative and field to the opponents. It would be important to believe more in ideas, work and renewal. If we continue to play defensive football with few innovations, we will hardly return to being competitive as we did in the 90s. It will take offensive and command football, give a style of play and not keep one or two more players in defense, forcing the team to play outnumbered. Conte’s great work is allowing the Nerazzurri not to be far from this goal. Antonio gave his all to get to this level. He is a true professional, he has a healthy ambition that allows him to forge ahead. He is a generous man, he loves football and his work, he is a great coach, I hope he concludes the good he has already done. Hermann Hesse said: “Intelligence is good, patience is better”. Come on Antonio, come on Italian football “.
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