Conte compliments Inter after Barcelona performance: ‘They are representing Italy’ | OneFootball

Antonio Conte sent his compliments to his former club Inter after their performance against Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final on Wednesday night, as he feels the Nerazzurri are ‘representing Italy’ and helping to bring Serie A back to an ‘important level’.

Inter and Napoli are locked into a battle for the Serie A title, with just three points separating the two teams with four games left to go. The Nerazzurri had led the standings by a three-point margin in April, but a six-point swing over the last two weeks means that it is Conte’s Partenopei who now occupy top spot.

Inter, meanwhile, have also been in Champions League and until recently Coppa Italia action on top of their league commitments.

They were held level at 3-3 against Barcelona after goals from Marcus Thuram, Denzel Dumfries, Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres and a Yann Sommer own goal in one of the standout games of the season on Wednesday night.

BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 30: Denzel Dumfries of FC Internazionale scores his team’s second goal whilst under pressure from Pedri and Frenkie de Jong of FC Barcelona during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg match between FC Barcelona and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on April 30, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Conte praises Inter after 3-3 Barcelona draw

MONZA, ITALY – APRIL 19: Antonio Conte, Head Coach of Napoli, looks on prior to the Serie A match between Monza and Napoli at U-Power Stadium on April 19, 2025 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Conte, like Pep Guardiola did on Thursday, praised Inter for their showing against Barcelona during his pre-match press conference on Friday.

“First we have to congratulate them, and these are not fake compliments, because Inter are representing Italy and they are bringing us prestige, joy and an understanding that the Italian league is of an important level. And, that Napoli, by giving Inter a hard time, are doing something extraordinary,” Conte told the press.