Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni has described his new manager Antonio Conte as the 'Lionel Messi of coaches'.
The 20-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Parma, believes that the overall quality level at Inter has gone up because of Conte.
Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Bastoni said: "Everyone had spoken highly of Conte and I've only received confirmation of how great he is. As far as I am concerned, Conte is the Messi of coaches.
"He is phenomenal, has exceptional footballing ideas and always wants to go on the attack. The training schedule is very tough indeed, but so was Gian Piero Gasperini when I played for Atalanta.
"The difference was that we were training in China over the summer and the humidity was incredible, so I admit that did make me suffer a lot. But when the quality level goes up, you must raise your game to meet it.
"There's no point denying it, we want to change the way the Serie A seasons have been going recently. We have the coach and the squad to do that, but must prove it one game at a time."
It has now been over nine years since Jose Mourinho delivered Inter's last Serie A title but following two wins out of two at the start of this campaign, and the arrivals of Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku, Bastoni believes there are reasons to be optimistic at the San Siro.
Inter host Udinese on Saturday, and Bastoni will be hoping to soon be handed his Nerazzurri debut by Conte.
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