Coppa Italia: Everything still possible in second leg Juve, Inter – Conte

INTER’S coach Antonio Conte is remaining upbeat about Inter’s chances of progression to the Coppa Italia final, despite losing 2-1 to Juventus in  semi-final first leg.

  The Nerazzurri took an early lead through Lautaro Martinez but gifted their arch rivals two goals with avoidable mistakes, and Inter are now in a position where they need to score at least two to stand any chance of winning the tie.

  Cristiano Ronaldo scored both goals for the Bianconeri before half-time, one of which was from the penalty spot.

  “Anything can happen in the second leg, although it is inevitable that you have to be realistic and know that you have to go there and win by two goals against a strong team,” Conte told the during his post-match press conference following the game at San Siro.

  “Now we focus on facing Fiorentina in the league on Friday and then on the return leg, where Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal will both be suspended.”

  Speaking on the game itself, Conte pointed out that yet again Inter had chances but could not take advantage of them and it has become a bit of a recurring theme of late.

  “There is enormous regret because we did everything, we helped out Juventus by giving them two goals, we scored one but we had many other big chances that, as often happens, we did not capitalise on.

  “I’m here to always say the same things, there must be regret, we could have done better.

  “I have nothing to blame the boys for because they gave everything, but even when you give everything, sometimes it is not enough.

  “Today was a particular game, we gave two great gifts and as a former football player I know that sometimes it can be like this.

  “We have to raise the bar and do more and we have to be clinical and score goals.”

  Asked about the mistakes which gave Juventus each of their goals in the match, Conte admitted that they are part of football.

  “Mistakes are part of the game of football, during the match mistakes are made that unfortunately are sometimes minor, sometimes serious.

  “Today we committed two serious ones, giving them two goals.”

  The former Azzurri boss then commented on Sanchez and whether he was tired near the end of the game.

  “I don’t know, he certainly tried to do his best but he too must be more ruthless in front of goal because the numbers are not pretty and the numbers of an attacker must be more important