Conte opens up about tactical approach, future target and exit speech at Tottenham
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ByLorenzo Bettoni
Feb 14, 2024 12:42
Antonio Conte insists he feels the responsibility to win without telling his players ‘good lies’ and dreams of winning the Champions League as a coach one day.
The Italian tactician released a long interview with The Telegraph, speaking about his tactical approach, his plans for the future and his time at Tottenham, his most recent experience as a coach.
Conte spent one and a half years in North London, leaving the club in March 2023.
In his final press conference at Tottenham, Conte blamed his players for not wanting to play under pressure.
“At that moment, my feeling was that. If I tell something, it means there is always something true. No, honestly, I don’t regret anything about this. But I have good feelings about Tottenham. I keep this experience in my heart,” he said.
“I am this way. I hate the lies. This can help me sometimes or sometimes can hurt me. But I prefer to stay in silence than to tell a good lie – also the relationship with my players.
“During the season, it can happen that you need an honest conversation that can be positive or negative. I know very well, I was a player as well and some coaches told me good lies to keep me calm. I don’t want this type of situation.
“I know very well when you have these honest conversations with the players, in the first moment they can be a bit angry. Then, from my experience, the time helps the player to appreciate you. They were angry, but then they appreciate the honesty.”
Conte continued the interview by talking about his approach on the pitch and what he expects from his players. The Italian tactician said that one day, we could see one of his teams play with a high line but insisted his three-man defence is not a defensive set-up.
“A high line means you must press a lot. You can bring your line high if there is pressure on the ball. Otherwise, it’s a big risk,” he noted.
“People think it’s a defensive system, this is not true. I repeat, it’s not true. You can see how many goals my teams score in every season.
“It doesn’t depend on three or four at the back, it depends on the way you build the team and build the attack. At the same time, it’s not good to be too offensive. And not too much defence. You have to respect the characteristics of the players and adapt to them. My experience tells me that if you want to win the league or lift a trophy, you need to have a stable team. Last season, Manchester City was the best example of a team with great balance, defensively and offensively.”
Conte has won four Serie A titles and one Premier League as a coach, among other trophies.
“Those trophies are a big, big responsibility because they stay there to remind you that ‘oh look, you have to win’,” he said. “‘You did this and you have to continue to do this’.
“If the final target is to win the league and lift trophies, it’s important to offer entertainment to the crowd,” he continued.
“But to be only an entertaining team is not enough if you want to win. I know because I coached the top teams and they always asked to win.
“For me, now it’s impossible to work for an only entertainment team because the expectation is always that you have to win. I love my past, but at the same time the expectation you bring is always very high and if you don’t win, you have failed. The best possible option is to entertain and win.
“And to be celebrated, I have to win. Otherwise, the others are waiting to celebrate my failure. This is the truth.
“For me, to celebrate fourth place and a place in the Champions League was really strange,” he added.
“At the end of the final game against Norwich, I called my staff and said ‘pay attention, don’t be used to celebrating a Champions League place’. I was very clear. I said we did the maximum. From ninth to fourth place, with all the problems we faced, was a miracle. But we didn’t celebrate like it was a miracle because I am used to winning.”
Conte has been linked with Napoli and Milan, and according to The Telegraph, he turned down the chance to return as the Italy national team coach in September and rejected offers from the Saudi Pro League. However, he is expected to return to the dugout next season.
“I took this time for me, for my family and to visit my parents,” he said. “My father pushed me to return quickly, but it is important to recharge, physically and mentally. Now my only problem is I have too much energy and I’m annoying my wife!”
So, which are his targets now?
“Honestly, I’d like to lift the Champions League as a manager one day,” he replied.
“But I know this is very difficult. People think this is simple, but you have to stay in the right club, a club that matches your ambition, a club that is ready to make the final step to win the Champions League. Look at Manchester City. Seven years, no?
“I’d like to give this joy to my father. He said to me ‘I want to see you lift the Champions League’. It’s not simple, but everyone can have a dream.”
Lorenzo Bettoni is the Editor of Football Italia.
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