I'm not political...but I lack diplomacy: Conte aims to draw a line under Inter criticism

Inter boss Antonio Conte

Antonio Conte insisted he is "not a political person" though recognised he is not "particularly diplomatic" as the Inter head coach tried to draw a line under his criticism of the Nerazzurri.

Doubts circulated over the future of Conte at San Siro after he delivered a withering assessment of the "little protection" he felt his Inter side received amid question marks over performances of the Serie A team.

That led to speculation Conte's tenure could come to end after just a solitary season, with Massimiliano Allegri and Mauricio Pochettino emerging as reported targets to take over.

Conte later preached unity, though, and has engineered Inter's route to the Europa League final, which included a 5-0 battering of Shakhtar Donetsk in the last four on Monday.

Inter president Steven Zhang flew into Germany to be with the Serie A runners-up and Conte was asked if the situation has now been resolved.

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"I don't feel like going back over certain situations. I felt some things at the time and felt the need to say it," he told Sky Sport Italia. 

"What I say is always aimed at being constructive. The media likes to emphasise some situations more than others, but at the same time, I know we have to go through certain steps to become what Inter want to be in future.

"I am not a political person. I stick to facts and action, not being particularly diplomatic, but I try to be constructive and not to offend anyone."

Inter face Sevilla in Friday's final in Cologne as they aim to win a first trophy since 2011.