Conte shuts down talk over Inter future
Antonio Conte is focused only on this season with Inter, rather than his long-term future at the club, as the Serie A leader prepares to host Atalanta.
Inter's 2-1 triumph at Parma on Friday (AEDT) – sealed thanks to a brace from Alexis Sanchez – made it four league wins on the spin, though Conte acknowledges there is still a long way to go yet in their bid for a first Scudetto since 2010.
The former Juventus and Chelsea boss is in his second year in charge of the Nerazzurri, his current deal running until the end of the 2021-2022 campaign.
It remains to be seen if he will sign an extension to extend his tenure beyond then, though his primary concern right now is staying clear of the chasing pack in the title race.
"The fact is I have another year to run on the contract. At this moment, all of us – me, the coaches, the players – must focus on the present," Conte said.
"We cannot be distracted by other factors, we must be concentrated because we can influence the present, from here to the end of the season.
"What will happen externally, I do not know. We have no influence over that. We can influence the present and our job.
"I know that people want to talk about other factors, but we must stay concentrated. We need continuity and consistency. We want to show that Inter are back to the levels it deserves.
"We cannot get carried away and think about the future – we must stay focused and think about the here and now. Our objective is playing matters and doing well for the club."
Conte will come up against one of his former clubs on Monday, though Atalanta is a far different proposition now to when he was in charge in 2009-2010.
Gian Piero Gasperini's side are once again fighting for a top-four finish, their total of 49 points a club-record tally after 25 games in a top-flight campaign.
Inter has triumphed only once in its last six matches against Atalanta in Serie A, with Conte full of praise for his opposite number ahead of the game at San Siro.
"We are facing a team that creates big problems for everyone, in the Champions League and in the league, where they have won several times against the big names," Conte said.
"Atalanta have consolidated, aware of their means and have strong players, both the starters and those who enter during the match – I think of [Luis] Muriel, who has taken over many times and has solved complicated games.
"Gasperini is doing an extraordinary job, the group is following his ideas and I'm happy for him and for Atalanta, who I coached for a while."
