Conte shuts down Vidal talk as he bemoans Inter´s injuries

Antonio Conte was in no mood to discuss Inter’s prospective move for Barcelona midfielder Arturo Vidal after his side’s laboured 1-1 draw at home to Atalanta in Serie A.

Lautaro Martinez gave the Nerazzurri an early lead at San Siro but visiting Atalanta were in the ascendancy for much of the contest from that point on Saturday.

Robin Gosens netted a deserved equaliser 15 minutes from time and only Samir Handanovic’s superb save from Luis Muriel’s late penalty averted Inter’s second league defeat of the campaign.

Inter will fall two points behind Juventus at the summit if the Italian champions win at Roma on Sunday and head coach Conte was keen to focus on the absence of key personnel after the match.

“I am not talking about players who are not part of the Inter squad,” Conte told DAZN when reported transfer target Vidal was raised.

“I faced this game without four key players. Atalanta are intense, with a lot of physical force.

“We did everything we could to try and win the game. The lads are exceptional.

“Today we had Nicolo Barella suspended, Matias Vecino with a calf problem. I’m trying to get Alexis Sanchez back in shape  but in my view we are giving everything in a very difficult situation.”

When your best mate does you proud #InterAtalanta 1-0 pic.twitter.com/5cWo88rqKA

— Inter (@Inter_en) January 11, 2020

Stefano Sensi eased Conte’s concerns in that sense, completing 71 minutes in midfield on his first start since suffering an abductor tear in October.

“I am happy because he did 70 minutes in a very intense game, he will slowly come back up to speed,” Conte added.

“We continue to work, the ranking [in the table] must not deceive us.”