Now it's official: Inter is fourth. Conte's team, until a few days ago fighting for the Scudetto, confirms its negative momentum drawing also in Verona, moreover by being reached in the final. Once again, therefore, the Nerazzurri are throwing away points every game in progress: a paradox, given that physical condition, net of injuries and close matches, seems to be the least of the problems. The real trouble would appear to be mental, almost as if moving away from Juve, instead of increasing motivation, had reset them, with the result of no longer being able to hold on from a nervous point of view.
Now the risk is big, because if it's true that there are only 8 points left to qualify for the Champions League, it's also true finish fourth, just like a year ago with Spalletti, it would create many problems for Conte, whose added value, at the moment, needs to be at least reconsidered.
“We are working well with this group and I think it shows – the Nerazzurri coach replied – We lost stupid points along the way, otherwise we would be talking about another classification. If I have to say something from a technical point of view, at the end of the season I'll make my considerations with the club and if I have to say something I'll tell them. Everyone would like to win, you have to understand how close you are or how far you are: there are those who think in one way and maybe others think otherwise”.
The game of Bentegodi with many faces, started clearly under the sign of Hellas. Suffice it to say that Juric's men took the lead after just 2' with Lazovic, very good at dribbling Skriniar (in a nice statuette version) and freezing Handanovic on his post. A shocking start, from which Inter struggled to recover, as evidenced by Veloso hitting the post a few minutes later. But then the Nerazzurri, more with their nerves than with their legs, raised pressure and center of gravity, forcing Verona to reduce their pace and defend themselves in their own trocar.
A scenario that continued at the beginning of the second half and in fact here is the turnaround for Inter, with Candreva as a great protagonist. The former Lazio player first found an equalizer by repeating a goal from Lukaku (49 '), then he propitiated Dimarco's own goal (55') with a treacherous cross-shot, giving him a precious 2-1. But that didn't last, partly due to the indomitable spirit of Verona, partly due to an at least questionable management of men (see Borja Valero, kept on the field well beyond the reserve), partly due to the forced replacement of Lukaku, forced to leave due to a physical problem (today we will know more).
And so the Gialloblù found an equalizer with Veloso, this time precise in hitting the net behind Handanovic, for a 2-2 final that makes Juric smile, author of an amazing championship regardless of the Europa League, but not Conte, forced to dwell on the umpteenth points thrown away. With yesterday's 2 we are at 20 lost in a comeback: a score incompatible with the Scudetto dream, unacceptable for those who, at the beginning of the season, had promised to put "crazy Inter" aside.
