Inter Milan head coach Antonio Conte has said the Italian champions Juventus remain as the team to beat Serie A ahead of their meeting in San Siro on Sunday.
The Turin club have won the league title for nine years in a row but their usual domestic leadership did not enjoy this term, as Andrea Pirlo is monitoring a transition period in his first season. as a coach.
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Juventus are in fourth place, four points behind Inter in the second and seven points from leaders AC Milan, with a game in hand for both.
“It is inevitable that Juventus represent a benchmark for everyone, for years they have taken control of Italy,” Conte said at a news conference.
“When you want to find out what level you are at, you compare yourself to Juventus.”
Sunday’s “Italian Derby” allows Inter Juventus to leave with a mountain to climb in the title defense.
But Juve midfielder Conte, who won three Serie A titles as coach of the Turin club from 2011 to 2014, confirmed that no team can claim to have shifted the balance of power.
“I don’t want to reveal who their favorite people are. We have a lot of respect for a team that wants to continue the leadership for the tenth year in a row,” he said.
“Last year we narrowed the points gap and this year we hope to do the same. Beforehand, Juve were 20-25 points ahead of the rest, that was not good.
“No team in Italy can say they have closed the gap to Juventus. For nine years they have taken control and done important work, managing change and rejuvenating the squad. without sacrificing knowledge. “
Conte was also asked about Christian Eriksen, who started in a deep playmaker role in the 2-1 Coppa Italia victory against Fiorentina on Wednesday, despite rampant rumors of a sale this month.
“We need to make the most of the squad’s ability,” said Conte.
“Behind you [Marcelo] Brozovic we don’t have another playmaker, so we play Christian there and look to get the best out of him in that situation.
“It’s played as trequartista, a midfielder and now as a player. An element with these features can certainly be useful to the team. “