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Inter must give everything against Barcelona, says Conte

SHOWS: APPIANO GENTILE, ITALY (DECEMBER 9, 2019) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) INTER MILAN COACH, ANTONIO CONTE, SAYING:

"Look, we're talking about Barcelona, ​​one of the strongest teams in the world with a squad of very strong players. Barcelona is one of the four or five teams that every year aim to win every competition and in order to reach this result your team should be composed of 20 or 22 very strong players. I think that Barcelona has the confidence of being at top of the group but at the same time they have the confidence of playing without pressure and this can be a positive aspect because sometimes the pressure can slow down your way of playing and create problems. Having said that, we need to focus on ourselves and play the game in the right way and try to play well. I'll tell my players not to have regrets at the end of the game, we have to give everything knowing that sometimes, against teams like Barcelona, it might not be enough."

STORY: Inter Milan coach Antonio Conte on Monday (December 9) said he expects a tough match as his side bids to reach the last 16 against Barcelona.

"We're talking about Barcelona, ​​one of the strongest teams in the world with a squad of very strong players", Conte said during a news conference in Appiano Gentile.

"Barcelona has the confidence of being top of the group, but at the same time they have the confidence of playing without great pressure."

The Catalans already qualified for the next round after a 3-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund and six-time Ballon d'Or winner Leo Messi has been left out of the squad along with midfielder Sergi Roberto.

But Conte did not underestimate Ernesto Valverde's side and said his players will have to focus on the game "without regrets".

"We have to give everything knowing that sometimes, against teams like Barcelona, it might not be enough", he told reporters.

Inter Milan will host Barcelona in San Siro on Tuesday (December 10) sitting second in Group F, level on seven points with Borussia Dortmund, who will face Slavia Prague.