Conte wants no anarchy

LONDON. – Chelsea boss Antonio Conte says a soccer manager must be in charge of the dressing room or there will be “anarchy” and he is setting himself up to be sacked.

Conte was speaking in relation to the increasing player power entering into the game. The comments come amid Diego Costa’s likely Chelsea exit this summer, with the striker currently absent from the club’s pre-season tour after being told by Conte via text that he is not part of his plans.

“It is logical that when you must be tough, you must be tough,” Conte is quoted as saying by The Times. “If you want an identity you need all players to go into your idea. Otherwise it is very difficult if I want to give the identity to the club and ask the No. 10 to stay in his position and this No. 10 is around the pitch, it is very difficult to give this identity.

“The coach becomes crazy, this is true. The coach must be in total control of the dressing room. Otherwise there is anarchy. Yes, anarchy. “When I was a footballer, (Marcello) Lippi and (Giovanni) Trapattoni and (Carlo) Ancelotti and (Arrigo) Sacchi, my coaches were totally in control of the dressing room.

“Otherwise, you are preparing to die. ‘Morira’ [you will die]. If this doesn’t happen you are preparing yourself for death. If you lose control, probably you will be sacked in one or two months. If you are lucky, three months.

“Now the situation has changed. It is more difficult. When I was a footballer, the club had more power. “It is right to have the same behaviour with all the players – not because one is young and they are different. That is not good. If a player makes a mistake, a young player or an old player, you must underline it and help improve the player to help avoid the mistake in the future.

“If I go and am very strict only with the young player and not the old players, it is not the right way to have respect from the dressing room. The players are at the same level and sometimes I demand more from the old players than the young players – they have more experience to teach the young players the right behaviour.

“But when you are a player, it is normal that you are selfish. I was selfish and you think only about yourself.”

Conte, meanwhile, has revealed his dream striker signing would be Tottenham’s Harry Kane. The Italian, who has brought in Alvaro Morata for £58 million, was not suggesting the Blues are looking to buy the England striker, but spoke of his admiration for the 23-year-old. – ESPN.