‘It’s football, not war,’ says Conte as tensions mount ahead of Derby d’Italia

Milan (AFP) – Inter Milan coach Antonio Conte blasted “stupid and ignorant people” who were whipping up tensions ahead of Sunday’s Derby d’Italia, his first game against former club Juventus.

“This is sport, not war. Sometimes people forget that,” said Conte, who led Juventus to the first three of their current run of eight Serie A titles.

For Conte it will be his first match against Juventus since he left in 2014 to take over as Italy coach.

Inter are on a perfect run of six wins and sit two points ahead of Juventus on top of the Serie A table.

Over 15,000 Juventus fans signed a petition to have Conte’s star removed from the Allianz Stadium Walk of Fame, a move rejected by Juventus president Andrea Agnelli.

“I’m disappointed that he had to intervene, because it just gave publicity to a vulgar proposition,” said Conte. 

“I didn’t even want to discuss this, but you in the media are giving a spotlight to these stupid and ignorant people.

“It’s increasingly difficult, because society nowadays highlights hatred and violence. I’ve struggled since I came back to Italy from England. I see situations and wonder why I am even doing this.

“As long as my passion for this sport surpasses these issues, then I will continue. If my passion drops, I will be the first to say enough. It won’t be a big loss for football, but it won’t be a loss for me either.”

Former Italy midfielder Conte won five Serie A titles over a 13-year spell as a player in Turin, and was part of the last Juventus team to lift the Champions League trophy in 1996.

He returned to coach the club in 2011, leaving three years later to coach Italy.

– Conte v Sarri rivalry –

The match will also rekindle the rivalry between Conte and long-time rival Maurizio Sarri whose careers have overlapped.

The rivalry goes back to their early coaching careers when both were on the bench of Serie B side Arezzo during the 2006-2007 season.

First Conte took the reins, for what would be his first managerial position, and then Sarri, followed by Conte again before the Tuscany side eventually suffered relegation to Serie C.

Conte, 50, won the Premier League title with Chelsea in 2017, before being replaced by Sarri, 60, who won the Europa League last season for his first trophy.

Both coaches downplayed the importance of their rivalry and also Sunday’s match at the San Siro.

from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/2ogO4QF