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LONDON: One of the oldest cliches in football is that elimination from European competition can allow a team to concentrate on the league, and it is one with which Inter Milan coach Antonio Conte will be especially familiar. Conte has struggled to match his impressive domestic record with success in the Champions League, a reputation which was reinforced after Inter were knocked out in the group stage for the second time in a row under his leadership on Wednesday. Inter finished bottom of Group B following a 0-0 draw at home to Shakhtar Donetsk and will not even have the distraction of the second-string Europa League. Instead, they will be able to focus all their energy on winning Serie A for the first time since 2010, starting with their visit to Cagliari on Sunday. Inter are second in the table with 21 points, five behind leaders AC Milan, and are topscorers with 26 goals. Although it is a jaded cliche, focusing on the league could indeed be a bonus for Inter as the … [Read more...] about Football: Inter left to focus on the league after another European flop

MILAN: Inter Milan were knocked out of the Champions League in the group stage for the third season in a row on Wednesday after being held to a 0-0 draw at home by Shakhtar Donetsk, who were also eliminated. Lautaro Martinez rattled the crossbar in the seventh minute of the Group B match but Inter created few chances after that, despite dominating possession at a soggy San Siro, and mustered only four efforts on target. Shakhtar finished level with Borussia Moenchengladbach on eight points but lost out to the Bundesliga side - beaten 2-0 by Real Madrid - on their head-to-head record to finish third and will go into the Europa League instead. Inter, who could have gone through with a win, finished bottom of the group with six points after drawing three of their six games and failing to win at home, and will not even have the consolation of the second-string competition. Real won the group with 10 points. "There are a lot of regrets, however, I sincerely do not feel that … [Read more...] about Football: Inter suffer third successive group stage elimination

MILAN: Inter Milan coach Antonio Conte has rejected suggestions that underhand tactics could deprive his team of a place in the Champions League knockout stages, dismissing such talk as depressing. Conte's side need to beat Shakhtar Donestk at home on Wednesday in their final Group B match to have a chance of finishing in the top two. However, if Inter win and Real Madrid and Borussia Moenchengladbach draw the group's other game on Wednesday, then Real and Borussia would both go through instead. The Italian sports media thrives on conspiracy theories, which are bizarrely known as "biscuits", and Conte was inevitably asked if he was concerned about what might happen in the other game. "This is the Champions League - we are talking about big clubs, not a kickaround in the park," he told reporters. "I'm not at all worried about what will happen in Madrid, let's not talk about other matches. "I hope the media don’t focus too much on rumours about flaying for a mutually … [Read more...] about Inter coach Conte refuses to take the biscuit

MOENCHENGLADBACH: Inter Milan forward Romelu Lukaku scored twice in the second half to secure a 3-2 win at Borussia Moenchengladbach on Tuesday (Dec 1) and keep their hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive with Group B still wide open with one round of games left. The Belgium international has proved a lifesaver for Inter, having also scored twice, including a last-minute equaliser, in their 2-2 draw with the Germans in Italy on the first matchday. Lukaku fired home for a 2-1 lead in the 64th minute at Borussia Park and tapped in his second goal nine minutes later to make it 3-1, with Inter now needing a win in their last group match against Shakhtar Donetsk to have any chance of advancing. "You need to be a great group (of players), otherwise you don't come here and win against this Borussia side in great form," said Inter coach Antonio Conte. "We had a great performance, we fully deserved to win. We just could avoid some risks at the end but we are still alive and this … [Read more...] about Football: Lukaku double in 3-2 win at Glabdach keeps Inter hopes alive

MOENCHENGLADBACH, Germany: Inter Milan forward Romelu Lukaku scored twice in the second half to secure a 3-2 win at Borussia Moenchengladbach on Tuesday and keep their hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive with Group B still wide open with one round of games left. The Belgium international has proved a lifesaver for Inter, having also scored twice, including a last-minute equaliser, in their 2-2 draw with the Germans in Italy on the first matchday. Lukaku fired home for a 2-1 lead in the 64th minute at Borussia Park and tapped in his second goal nine minutes later to make it 3-1, with Inter now needing a win in their last group match against Shakhtar Donetsk to have any chance of advancing. "You need to be a great group (of players), otherwise you don't come here and win against this Borussia side in great form," said Inter coach Antonio Conte. "We had a great performance, we fully deserved to win. We just could avoid some risks at the end but we are still alive and … [Read more...] about Lukaku double in 3-2 win at Glabdach keeps Inter hopes alive