Antonio Conte has won with Chelsea on his first shot and a future away from Stamford Bridge seems now quite far away, even if there still are a lot of rumors. "My objective is to lay the groundwork to continue winning" can be read in La Repubblica. "Chelsea is already a big club, but has won a Champions League cup and then went out at the first leg of the next edition, has won the Premier League then finished at the 12th position. Chelsea must find stability at the top positions."
He added that "everything wasn't easy. The landing was beautiful, the way wasn't. My wife Elisabetta and I have decided that Vittoria, my daughter, would finish school in Torino even if she already was registered in London. If I were to stay, both of them would come with me. It would be a great opportunity for my daughter to live in a foreign country. I won't do another year by myself. The defeats against Liverpool and Arsenal from September? The team went on the field and I didn't know what could happen, the worst feeling I could possibly have. A defeat lasts two days for me, a win lasts one hour. I would die with my ideas, my convictions. I don't compromise. I gave it all and didn't feel doubted. The team respected me, my past talked for me, whether as a player or a coach.
He also speaks about his secrets: "The unity of the team that wanted to change: Chelsea finished last year at the 12th position, the players have agreed to change to new methods. Intensive trainings, a new diet, video-analysis, the details' importance. We started the climbing and the chants have begun, "Antoniooo", "Antonio does it better". It was emotional to conquest Stamford Bridge. The passion moves me in every aspect, my exultations are spontaneous. English football is one I wanted to live, I wanted to invade the full stadiums and experience this atmosphere. I now have and feel more complete. That doesn't mean less pressure though, in a big club you always have to win".
Differences? "The sportive culture. I saw Middlesbrough's relegation while the fans applaud. Your opponents applaud you too. Simulators get disqualified and won't ever become idols". About Serie A: "Play-off do not convince me. Playing at Christmas' time isn't a problem, besides for us, catholics. Gasperini's Atalanta has been impressive: a solid club, a well prepared coach and strong young players". About the traditions: " I'm uncompromising at work but became more flexible. I've learnt to close my eyes, when I saw someone eat scrambled eggs before a game for exemple. You must accept a country's habits and learn its language out of respect".
About speaking English, Conte had "two weeks of intensive courses at my arrival. I had a basic scholar knowledge, it was something difficult to overcome but with a strong motivation, nothing cannot be achieved".
His objective is to "always get better. No one believed in us against Guardiola's City, Mourinho's United, Klopp's Liverpool, Wenger's Arsenal or Pochettino's Tottenham. Every year six teams compete for Premier League's title. Champions League depends on the draws".
Interisti fans call him: "Italian fans' enthusiasm makes me proud. Speculations about my future are normal, but I want to stay focused on the field. I'm in love with Italy, feel it in my heart in everything that I do even if I had to win the Premier League title to make my father come to England. He promised me he would come with my mother. In the 10 years I've been coaching, people have tried to take me down but haven't succeeded it yet".
