JAKARTA - Inter Milan returned to the top of the Italian Serie A standings after defeating Atalanta 1-0. Napoli coach Antonio Conte claimed the success of occupying the standings when closing 2025 made Inter the favorite to win the Scudetto. However, coach Cristian Chivu was not influenced by the claim and ignored it.
The tight competition in the Italian League because the three teams, Inter, AC Milan and Napoli always take turns occupying the top position every week. The mutual jealousy is still going on and will continue when the league enters the new year.
Inter, who originally dominated the standings, slipped when Milan won 3-0 over Hellas Verona. Milan was then overshadowed by Napoli who beat Cremonese 2-0 through striker Rasmus Hojlund's brace.
However, Milan and Napoli were only at the top for a short time because Inter took back the top of the standings.
The 1-0 victory after captain Lautaro Martinez scored a goal was enough for Inter to overtake its two rivals. Now, Inter, who have 36 points, are one point ahead of Milan. Meanwhile, Napoli, who dropped to third place, has 34 points.
Juventus are also still in the running with 32 points. Luciano Spalletti's team is still four points behind Inter, but Conte still calls Juve a candidate to win the Scudetto.
On the other hand, Conte did not include Napoli, who are the defending champions, as a competitor for the league title. According to him, Inter, Milan and Juve have a better chance of winning this season.
"Our infrastructure is not fully ready," Conte told Football Italia giving an excuse for why his team is not the favorite to win the championship despite winning the league last season.
"In my opinion, Juventus, Inter and Milan have better structures and squad stability. The players' salaries are also above other clubs. If occasionally there is a club outside them who wins a trophy, it means it's an extraordinary thing. We can't deny and act as if we were on par with them," said Conte who was a pillar of Juve when he was a player and then designed the Bianconeri. Conte also successfully managed Inter.
"We are trying to cut this distance with hard work and dedication. But we don't forget that there is a distance between us," he said again.
Conte, who just led Napoli to win the Supercopa Italiana, which was also contested by Inter and Milan, tried to throw a nerve war with his competitors. Conte did not include Napoli so that they were not taken into account in the competition.
Only Chivu was not caught and was not at all interested in Conte's predictions. The coach who replaced Simone Inzaghi also refused to give an analysis of the competition and chose to focus on I Nerazzurri.
"I'm not interested in what Conte said," Chivu said.
"I haven't even finished 2025. Give me time and I will only answer after the first match in 2026," he said.
"Nothing is certain in football. You have to work hard and prove your team is competitive enough to compete. What is clear is that we have not passed the halfway point of the competition. So the journey is still long," Chivu said again.
"The only way to prove your ability is on the field. So we will give everything on the field and we are ready to fight harder," he said.
Chivu was under pressure after failing in the Supercopa Italiana held in Riyadh. They lost to Bologna in a penalty shootout so they went home early.
When playing against Atalanta at the Gewiss Stadium, Monday, December 29, 2025 WIB, Inter had difficulty. Marcus Thuram's goal was ruled offside.
However, Inter finally broke the deadlock after Martinez broke the La Dea's goal in the 65th minute. The score became 1-0 for Inter and lasted until the end of the match.
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