How Antonio Conte has transformed Inter from pretenders to winners

Inter's narrow victory over Verona on Sunday saw them take another significant step towards securing their 19th Scudetto.

To think when Antonio Conte took charge they had just finished fourth, a huge 21 points behind the champions Juventus and now boast a 13 point lead over the Bianconeri - you can't help but be in awe of what he has achieved so far.

Not since the 2009/10 season have Inter been crowned as Italy's finest. Juventus' dominance has seen Serie A become somewhat predictable and so their emphatic dethroning is not just great for Inter, it's a win for Italian football.

The fact Inter's re-emergence has been masterminded by a Juve legend will undoubtedly make it difficult to stomach for those watching on from Turin, but what has Conte done to improve the Nerazzurri so dramatically and overtake his former club in such a short space of time?

Romelu Lukaku has been in irresistible form this season having netted 21 times in 32 league appearances. The Belgian striker has publicly credited Conte with his vast improvement. Lukaku has always scored goals but at Inter he's added a sophistication to his game we were yet to see.

To truly appreciate the 27-year-old's importance you'd need to watch him for 90 minutes. His tireless performances have seen him run channels, drop deep to receive the ball when necessary, run in behind and display a ruthlessness in front of goal. Conte and his staff are maximising his potential and perhaps most importantly they've made him feel loved and are now reaping the rewards.

Last season, Inter fell short. Conte's men finished just a solitary point behind their bitter rivals and the 2019/20 champions but despite missing out - having closed the gap between the pair in his first season - he'd have won over his players as well as the club's supporters.

The 51-year-old's ability to improve teams instantly is what makes him one of world football's most revered coaches and at a time when managers rarely get the time they feel they need, that's invaluable.

In terms of his recruitment policy, Conte prefers to sign experienced players rather than gambling on youth. The short-termism of his approach has at times seen him criticised but it enables him to achieve his goals quicker than most.

His passion for his profession is infectious - he celebrates every goal as if he's scored it and has provided the spark needed to reignite Inter as a club and some of their underachieving players.

Tactically, he's up there with the very best. Conte's a highly experienced coach and you could argue the fact his Juventus counterpart Andrea Pirlo is the opposite has aided him in his pursuit of the Scudetto this season.

But putting Juve's demise aside, the Nerazzurri have been incredibly consistent. This talented group have lost just twice in the league so far but that's largely down to the mentality and tactical security instilled by the brilliant Conte.