Antonio Conte believes the champions still have an edge over the rest of Serie A, but his midfielder believes Milan’s club are real competitors.
Inter have confirmed what they are taking to sustain a major title challenge this season by beating the reigning Juventus champions 2-0, according to Arturo Vidal.
Vidal opened the scoring against his former club at San Siro on Sunday, going home with a cross from Nicolo Barella to find the net in Serie A for the first time since the goal hit his Scudetto for Juve in May 2015.
Juve was the first player to score for Inter in the Derby d’Italia from Christian Vieri in 2004 and the eighth player to score for both sides in the game.
Lautaro Martinez and Romelu Lukaku missed chances to add to the Inter stage but Barella made no mistake with an emphatic finish in the 52nd minute.
As a result, the Nerazzurri have claimed their first league title against Juve since September 2016 and their first with a clean sheet since April 2010.
Antonio Conte’s side moved level with Serie A Milan leaders on 40 points and opened a seven-point advantage over the reigning champions.
Milan can back up their three-point lead by beating Cagliari in their game in their hands on Inter on Monday, but Vidal doesn’t think Conte’s men are going to fall.
“It’s important for me and the team. It was a very tough game against the best team in Italy,” Vidal said. Sky Italia Sports. “I’m glad I got my first goal for Inter, very happy. I think we’ve proven that we’re up to the act of fighting for the Scudetto.
“This will give us the confidence to keep pushing, to believe that we can win the Scudetto, because we have beaten the strongest team over the last nine years. We believe we can to go all the way. “
Before he started, Vidal was seen kissing Juve’s brooch on top of Giorgio Chiellini’s training while the two shared a hood. He then indicated his aim in a calm manner.
This team. https://t.co/zGVozcApl2
– Eadar (@Inter_en) January 17, 2021
Conte forced Juve to start just three Serie A titles to start their reign and finally got their first league victory on them in the fourth attempt.
Despite Inter emerging and Juve seven points ahead, Conte still believes the Bianconeri are the winning team in the race for the title.
“To beat a team like Juventus, which is for every Italian club as a point of information, we have to put in a good performance. We did that,” Conte said.
“We prepared well and it is gratifying to see that we were right about what we thought could hurt Juventus. The lads followed the plan perfectly and I am very happy with it. because these are games that need to give you self-belief, let you understand that you are on the right track.
“We saw the results of this process last season and we continue to see them this term. Juventus were an important point of reference, a side that controlled Serie A for nine years, after an outstanding work. do both on the field and as a club.
“I still maintain that Juve has a gap not just from Inter, but all other clubs, but we are working to close the gap.”
In what seemed like digging at his club, Conte said: “If people think we are our favorites now, imagine if we could work in the mobile market. in August. We would love to hear from you! “