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Antonio Conte is within the firing line with one other Champions League failure looming as his Inter Milan aspect head to Borussia Moenchengladbach on Tuesday with their hopes of reaching the knock-out stage hanging by a thread. The three-time European champions are backside of Group B with simply two factors from 4 video games, six factors behind leaders Gladbach. Real Madrid — the file 13-time winners — are one level behind the Germans in second place and three away from Ukrainian aspect Shakhtar Donetsk with two matches to play.
An Italian staff has not gained a European trophy since Inter secured the Champions League to finish a treble underneath Jose Mourinho in 2010.
And Inter want a miracle to keep away from a 3rd consecutive exit within the group stage.
Against Gladbach, the 1977 European Cup runners-up, there shall be no room for error.
The groups settled for a 2-2 draw on the San Siro final month, with Romelu Lukaku scoring each objectives for the hosts.
Inter must win after which beat Shakhtar, whereas additionally hoping different outcomes go their approach.
For former Juventus and Chelsea supervisor Conte, who took over at Inter in 2019, his European file has been constantly disappointing.
Conte tasted European glory as a participant with Juventus, within the 1995/96 Champions League.
But the 51-year-old’s finest consequence as a coach was main Juventus to the 2012/13 quarter-finals.
He took Chelsea to the final 16 in 2017-2018, however this threatens to be his fourth failure to make it into the knock-out rounds.
An exit from the profitable match would show pricey for Inter, who this week revealed losses of 102.Four million euros ($122.4m) for 2019/2020, largely blamed on the coronavirus pandemic.
Club president Steven Zhang nonetheless hailed Conte as “a true leader” who would restore the Chinese-owned aspect to their former glories.
“Last season’s goal was to start creating a winning mentality, then try to reduce the gap with our competitors,” mentioned Zhang.
‘For higher or for worse’
Last season, Conte took Inter to a second-place end in Serie A, only one level behind Juventus, and to the Europa League ultimate the place they misplaced to Sevilla.
He had seemed set to go away after only one season following a livid outburst following their defeat by Sevilla, complaining each he and the gamers acquired “little protection from the club”.
“I don’t want another year like that,” fumed Conte earlier than confirming he would keep after clear-the-air talks.
A divorce would have proved pricey together with his contract operating till 2022 and value a reported 12 million euros ($14 million) a season.
This season Inter have ceaselessly needed to come from behind, battling again from two objectives right down to equalise earlier than Real Madrid snatched a 3-2 victory in Spain.
They additionally got here from two objectives right down to beat Torino 4-2 every week in the past, however convincingly gained 3-Zero towards Sassuolo on Saturday to maneuver second in Serie A.
But Conte admitted his aspect had been outplayed by Real Madrid within the 2-Zero defeat final outing in Europe, not simply due to Arturo Vidal’s first-half sending off for arguing with the referee.
“Responsibility needs to be shared and we need to be united, for better or for worse,” mentioned Conte.
“In positive and negative moments, we all need to take credit and responsibility. We’re all in the same boat and we’re all rowing in the same direction.”
Against Gladbach, Conte shall be relying on the attacking duo of Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez, who’ve scored 10 of Inter’s 14 Champions League objectives up to now two seasons.
Alexis Sanchez additionally scored towards Sassuolo, discovering the online in two consecutive league fixtures for the primary time since December 2017 when he was at Arsenal.
But former Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen has been more and more sidelined, trying set to go away after only a 12 months in January.
Promoted
“It’ll be difficult since they’re a tough opponent, as we saw at San Siro,” mentioned Inter full-back Matteo Darmian.
“But we’ll keep trying until our exit is mathematically confirmed.”
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