Conte Relishing Inter Milan Challenge

By Max Wise

Newly-appointed Inter Milan manager, Antonio Conte, says he is relishing the challenge of returning the club to the upper echelons of Italian and European football.

Conte replaced Luciano Spalletti as manager of the Nerazzurri on Friday after the latter was sacked on Thursday following a fourth-placed finish in Serie A.

Conte had been out of work since he was dismissed as Chelsea boss in July 2018 leading to a long-running feud with the club over his severance package.

Inter Milan have fallen down the pecking order of Europe’s best clubs as they have failed to replicate the high standards Jose Mourinho set in leading the club to a remarkable treble in the 2009/2010 season.

Inter have not won the Serie A in the last nine seasons while their sojourns in Europe have been nothing to write home about.

They failed to negotiate past the Champions League group stages this season, finishing third in a group that included the likes of Tottenham Hotspurs, Barcelona and PSV Eindhoven.

Conte, who won three Serie A titles as a manager with Juventus as well as a Premier League title and FA Cup with Chelsea in England, is excited with the challenge he faces.

"For me, it's a new experience, a new chapter in my life, a new challenge. This is what I live for and I'm really excited to begin this new chapter," he told Inter Milan's official website.

"Through my work, I'll try to repay all of the trust that the club and directors have placed in me.

"This is a top club, one of the best in Italy and throughout the world – and the desire that the owners have to bring Inter back to where it belongs.

"This is a club that wants to return to being at the highest level in Italy, Europe and throughout the world."