Geoffrey Kondogbia says Inter must be realistic and aim for the Champions League rather than for the Scudetto.
The Nerazzurri climbed to the top of Serie A last season and defended their first place for the first half of the campaign, but eventually their performances crumbled.
Geoffrey Kondogbia says Inter must be realistic and aim for the Champions League rather than for the Scudetto.
The Nerazzurri climbed to the top of Serie A last season and defended their first place for the first half of the campaign, but eventually their performances crumbled.
“You have to be realistic about the objectives you can reach,” said Kondogbia, when asked by La Gazzetta dello Sport whether his team could win the Scudetto. “Improving on last year's fourth place means gaining access to the Champions League, which is what we want and what the club requests of us.
“And I think that's fair, for a club like Inter. But we'll see over the season how the championship develops.
“Last year, after our excellent start we met some trouble, and that higlighted our limits and our shortcomings. Things were made more difficult over those forty days by the fact that we were a low-scoring team.
“We have to make up for that with our character. We need to bring that to the fore during training and games alike. It's our responsibility, we're the ones who must show our personality because this team is already bursting with football quality.”
Kondogbia then discussed the positions that he prefers to play in, as he is famously capable of playing in several parts of the pitch.
“I grew up playing in a two-man midfield in front of the defence, on the inner left. But I can also play in a three-man midfield, still on the left.
“Of course I'm quite comfortable in Roberto Mancini's 4-2-3-1, but modern football calls for a variety of playing systems. You must know how to adapt yourself quickly.
“Italy helped me in finding my feet. I didn't think I'd feel so happy here, so quickly.
“Milan quickly became a small Paris for me, and in my free time I try to experience it together with my son Noam.”