Head coach of Inter Milan, Antonio Conte wants his charges to feel “at least one per cent” of his disappointment following their 2-1 Serie A defeat to Bologna at San Siro on Sunday (July 5).
Inter had seemed poised to claim maximum points at home to a 10-man Bologna after Romelu Lukaku gave the Nerazzurri a first-half lead against La Dotta.
Bologna’s Roberto Soriano received a red card for dissent after 57 minutes of play and Lautaro Martinez could have all but wrapped up the win from the penalty spot five minutes later but Lukasz Skorupski kept out his tame effort.
That gave the impetus to the visitors, who roared back to steal the win, thanks to goals in the final 16 minutes from Musa Juwara and Musa Barrow, either side of a red card for Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni.
Conte, who spent close to an hour in the changing room with his side before talking to the media, could not hide his frustration and says his players should be angry at their display.
“The disappointment is enormous, at least as far as I’m concerned,” he told reporters.
“I hope this disappointment that I feel is also felt by the players for at least one per cent.
“I am angry at myself because I’m the manager. I have my responsibilities; I am the one who directs the situation and it is right that I am very angry first of all with myself. Then I think that the players must also be with themselves.”
The setback leaves Conte’s side four points behind second-placed Lazio and just one ahead of Atalanta in the battle for Champions League qualification.
Conte is under no illusion that he is expected to win trophies at Inter and says he fully expects to be scrutinised when things do not go well.
“Situations are evaluated only by facing them,” he added.
“For me, this is the first year of working with Inter and I have taken a situation with many situations to improve.
“At the same time, I also say that it is right to challenge everyone, me first.
“I was brought here for a winning project and to bring Inter back to winning things. Clearly, the victory does not come overnight, but many situations leave a lot of bitterness.
“You think you are at a level and instead you are at a much lower level.
“From here to the end we will all have to prove that we deserve Inter. Otherwise, it is right to make other decisions too,” he said.
