Romelu Lukaku: “Here To Win Serie A, Simone Inzaghi Is Like Antonio Conte, Sorry Inter Fans” | OneFootball

Inter striker Romelu Lukaku has opened up about his aims and expectations for the season, stating that he hopes to win the Scudetto and continue to improve as a player under Simone Inzaghi.

Speaking to Italian broadcaster DAZN, the Belgian made no secret of the fact that he has returned to Serie A with the intention of winning, and also asked for forgiveness from Inter fans for his shock departure last summer.

A lot has changed since the last time Lukaku was an Inter player, with the Nerazzurri having lost out on their Scudetto crown to city rivals AC Milan, whilst the team has a new look to the one that the Belgian left despite having many familiar faces.

The 29-year-old will have to work hard to re-establish himself in the eyes of fans, to rebuild his reputation following a frustrating spell at Chelsea, and to help the team back to the top of Serie A under a different coach from the one he last won the title with.

“The season at Chelsea has given me a greater motivation to do even better than before,” Lukaku said. “In a just a season everyone has forgotten what I’m capable of and that gives me an anger deep inside ”

“The team didn’t manage to win the title last season but we all hope to go one better this time around,” he continued.

Of his departure to join Chelsea last summer, the Belgian said that “I got many things wrong. When I left I wanted to return there because Chelsea were my team when I was young.”

“I thought I could be the main man there, and that wasn’t the case,” he went on. “In March I sensed that there was an opportunity to return here, then towards the end of the season we did a great job and so did everyone at the club, so I was able to return.”

“I only reflect at the end of the season,” Lukaku continued. “After the last game I started thinking about the best next step for me.”

“At Inter they had a good season, whereas mine was difficult,” he reflected. “I had no doubt things weren’t going to change at Chelsea in the future, so I decided my best bet was to return here.”

“I’ve tried to fit into the team as best I can because they play differently than before,” the striker said of his return under a new coach.” All the players here have grown a lot, I have to do well to integrate and understand the coach’s ideas.”

Lukaku then said that “During the season I had a lot of contact with the players, for me it almost feels like I never left. I saw that every player has even greater desire to win, every match is like life or death. We’re even more united than before.”

“I had to sing at the team dinner, but that’s normal,” the Belgian went on.

Of his teammates, Lukaku said that “They’re even better than when I left. Brozo has become more of a leader, more open to other people. He doesn’t talk much, but he complains a lot,” he said with a laugh.

“Barella is more at the centre of things,” he continued, “he assisted quite a few goals last season. Having won the European Championship, the Coppa Italia, and the Supercoppa Italiana has given him more motivation.”

Asked if he thinks Inter are the strongest team in Italy, Lukaku replied that “I’m not someone who likes to think like that. Let’s see who wins.”

Asked about who the first player he talked to upon returning to the Nerazzirro, Lukaku named “Lautaro. We talked to each other on Instagram because I had changed my number.”

“After that we messaged each other a lot on Whatsapp,” he continued. “He was one of the first, and then Dimarco, Bastoni, and all the others.”

Of his words to his strike partner, Lukaku said “That he has to do more. We told ourselves that we have to do better than before, if we want to reach our goals then we all have to do better because the other teams have become even stronger.”

“From the first day I saw that he has the qualities to help my game, and I can help him as well,” the Belgian went on of Martinez. “We aren’t selfish players, I know when it is Lautaro’s day and I do everything to help him score so that we can win.”

“We have the same desire to win games,” Lukaku continued. “In training we’re always in opposite teams, but when they play us together in the actual matches we know that we have what it takes to make the team win.”

Of the race for top scorer in Serie A, the 29-year-old said “There are many top strikers here. But I’m only interested in winning the Scudetto. This is Inter.”

Of feeling the pressure at Inter, Lukaku said that “I feel it on the training pitch, it always comes out. That’s the greatest pressure. Otherwise I’m focused on what I have to do on the pitch. I don’t read the newspapers. In the end Inter have to win.”

The Belgian continued that “When I arrived at Inter I became like this. I arrived at Manchester United where I had two difficult years, mentally speaking.”

“Physically I suffered them because my head wasn’t there,” he went on. “I thank Conte because he made me grow a lot mentally, he pushed me to never give up and to give my all every day.”

“These foundations will stay with me until the end,” he said of Conte’s influenced. “Inzaghi is like that as well. My brother Jordan always toldd me good things about him. Last year in preseason I saw that he is the kind of coach who can help me grow, and that’s part of why I came back.”

“I think it was destined to play for Inter,” Lukaku stated, “like I was for Anderlecht or Chelsea, because I always imagined it in my head.”

“Inter, Anderlecht, and Everton are the teams that made me what I am today,” he added. “It’s only right to do everything for Inter.”

“I thank the fans for the love they’ve given me and my family,” he went on. “I must apologize for how I left them, but I have to do my talking on the pitch. I hope that with my performance, the love between us will return to what it once was.”

And finally asked if he’d like to become the “King of Milan” again, Lukaku responded “That’s not what I’m here for. I’m not here for myself, I’m here to help the team win the Scudetto.”