Antonio Conte heard the song before. “Pazza Inter Amala,” Inter’s catchy anthem, celebrates the club’s volatile nature. It’s about things happening by chance, last-gasp winners, endless drama, and infinite suffering.
He had heard enough. Inter had spent years doing things off the cuff. For two seasons running, they qualified for the Champions League on the final day. They needed crazy turnarounds to achieve results. Nothing seemed to happen by design. So the song, which usually played before home games, was banned. Conte wanted his new team to get serious. He wanted his team to win because they deserved to win. He wanted control.
The results are plain to see. Inter are first in Serie A with a perfect six wins out of six. Despite a small setback in the Champions League – a disappointing 1-1 draw with Slavia Prague – the Nerazzurri have shown incredible poise and a steely determination that’s been lacking for the better part of a decade.
Certain things had to happen for Conte to achieve that harmony. First, he shipped out the most disruptive influences. Then, he brought in players who fit his mold. A dressing room divided by nationality suddenly became whole. Distractions were shut out entirely. Inter …read more