INTER MILAN boss Antonio Conte has risked angering the club’s board after he laid into club chiefs after his side finished as runners-up in Serie A.
Following the 2-0 win away at Atalanta that meant Inter ended up just one point behind champions Juventus, Conte stated that he believes the board failed to protect his players from criticism this season.
Antonio Conte could depart Inter Milan after just one season spent at the clubCredit: Reuters
Speaking after the match, he said: “It has been a tough year on a personal level, very tough.
“I don’t think the players saw their work recognised and I don’t think I saw my work recognised. We all received very little protection from the club.
“We have to grow and improve in all areas, including off the field, and a big club should protect its players more.
“We’ll discuss it all at the end of the season. I have to meet the president (Steven Zhang) and he’s in China right now.”
Before adding: “It was very, very intense this year, difficult, and the lads did well to isolate ourselves and create unity within us, despite the difficulties.
CONT BELIEVE IT
“I don’t like people who get on the bandwagon and I saw a lot of that with Inter this year.
“We had to take all the poop for months and got zero protection. My problem is that I have a vision, I see the path we have to take and I know what we need to do.
“I can be a lightning rod for the first year, but if you don’t learn and keep making the same mistakes, then that’s just crazy.
“If you want to reduce the gap with Juventus you have to be strong on the pitch but above all off it.”
And according to Sky Sport Italia, Conte’s comments could lead him to depart the San Siro this summer after just one year in charge.
They state that his relationship with the board has never been so strained, and if things don’t get patched up, all signs point towards Conte leaving.
It has been claimed that Inter chiefs have tolerated Conte’s behaviour and outbursts up to now, but his latest remarks have angered the board.
There has even been talk that Massimiliano Allegri could be appointed, with the former Old Lady boss in pole position should Conte leave his role.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
