Napoli Coach Admits: ‘I Had Two Happy Years At Inter Milan, But They Grew Exponentially After I Left’ | OneFootball

Antonio Conte is happy with his time in charge of Inter Milan, but admits the team grew “exponentially” after he left.

The current Napoli coach spoke in a press conference ahead of his return to San Siro on Sunday, as reported by FCInterNews.

Conte was in charge of Inter for two seasons between 2019 and 2021.

And the former Juventus and Chelsea coach enjoyed a lot of success with the Nerazzurri.

When Conte took over at Inter, they had gone nearly a decade without trophies.

In Conte’s first season as Inter coach, there was no silverware. But he took the team closer than ever, finishing second in the Serie A table and reaching the Europa League final.

And in the coach’s second campaign at the helm, Inter won the Serie A title for the first time in eleven years.

Conte proved to be the most successful Inter coach since the Treble season of 2009-10.

And when Conte departed in tumultuous circumstances immediately after clinching the Scudetto, there was plenty of worry about whether the Nerazzurri could sustain the same levels.

Antonio Conte: “Two Happy Years At Inter, But The Team Grew Exponentially After I Left”

It was Simone Inzaghi who replaced Conte as Inter coach. He joined from Lazio in the summer of 2021.

Inzaghi’s first season as Inter coach saw the Nerazzurri win the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana.

However, a lack of the sake kind of clinical edge they’d had in Serie A under Conte saw them drop back down to second in the table.

But that was just the start.

More domestic silverware followed for Inzaghi’s Inter. And in the 2022-23 season, they reached the final of the Champions League.

Whereas Conte had never managed to get Inter out of the Champions League group stage, Inzaghi has done it for three seasons in a row.

And the Nerazzurri are certainly well-positioned in the competition now.

Moreover, last season Inter not only won the Serie A title. They did so in more dominant fashion than they had under Conte.

Conte said that at the moment, Inter “deserve credit for the work they’ve done.”

“Today they’re in a better position than any of their rivals.”

“Credit to them. From the club directors to the coaches, who have all had them grow exponentially,” Conte said.

Of returning, the current Napoli coach said that “It’s certainly a good feeling to be back.”

“I had two happy years there. The first season we finished second in the league and lost the Europa League final.”

“Then the following season we won the Scudetto.”

“It was a brilliant experience that I still carry with me,” Conte said. “I lived it to the fullest like every other.”