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Sports News of Monday, 18 May 2020

Source: www.mynigeria.com

Conte gave me the 'fighting spirit to believe in myself' - Moses

Victor Moses and Antonio Conte   |   TRIBUNA Victor Moses and Antonio Conte | TRIBUNA

Nigerian international, Victor Moses expressed gratitude to Inter's Antonio Conte for giving him "fighting spirit to believe" in himself.

The 29-year-old is on a second stint with the Italian in Inter following a prior relationship in Chelsea, where they won the Premier League and FA Cup together.

Conte was responsible for converting Moses from an attacker to a wing-back, where he has become influential after adapting to the role.

Speaking on his reunion with the 50-year-old after agreeing to a six-month loan move to Inter, Moses said, “It’s an honour to link up once again with an important figure in my career,” Moses told The Nation.

“He is my mentor and friend. I have played under a lot of managers and I’ve loved every single one of them. The most important one was Antonio Conte.

“At Chelsea, he just came in and changed everything. He is an amazing man; he totally changed my game, to be honest.

"He gave me that fighting spirit to believe in myself and to enjoy my football same time.

“And then when he came that first season, we won the league, the following season we won the FA Cup.

“It was an amazing season for me under Antonio Conte and I’ll always respect him for that, he’s an amazing man.

“I’ve never played that [wingback] position before. When the manager came in, he talked me through it and then put me there.

“It was good to have the manager’s support, and he backed me and gave me the confidence to go out there and express myself.

"So I just wanted to go out there to play for him, the fans and the football club. I didn’t let him down.”

Before the suspension of football in Italy due to the coronavirus, Moses played seven matches across all competitions for Inter Milan, which include three appearances in the Italian top-flight.

He described Conte as "one of the best managers in the world" with Inter placed third in the league table, behind Lazio and leaders Juventus.

“I’ve come to realise that you play better under a coach that believes in you and that is what Conte has done for me. I’ve played three matches and it’s been wonderful,” he continued.

“I feel better already. Before the lockdown I’ve played three games. I started the match away to Udinese and we won 2-0. It is good for the team. We are playing for the good of the team.

“It is not easy, it is very tactical. It is important for me to put myself at the service of the team and my teammates but the manager has been of tremendous help.

“He tells me what to do and I try to remember and follow most of his instructions. He is one of the best managers in the world.

“He played football himself and he has a lot of passion. I am very happy to work with him again.”

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