adminLONDON. — Antonio Conte sits down for his interview sucking a throat lozenge. He is getting through a lot of them just now. Chelsea’s new Italian manager is giving his vocal chords some major exercise at the moment, yelling instructions to his players every long hour of every day. His lozenge of choice, Borocillina’s, are Italian of course. Conte jokes that he should be looking at a sponsorship deal he is using them so much.He has a reputation as a dour, fanatical disciplinarian who works himself just as much as his charges. But on his 47th birthday, he proved to be wry and engaging company.
“I need these for my throat – I’m shouting too much,” he said, his throat straining. My voice is important – to call and talk to the players. During games, it can be very difficult for my throat.
“But it is important for me to make them understand me. Especially when starting new work together. When I started coaching I sometimes used a megaphone.”
It would not be a surprise to see Conte turning up on the touchline this season like an Oxbridge rowing coach, megaphone in hand, racing up and down on his bike.
To say he is lively is putting it mildly. During one match at the Euros when Italy scored he leapt onto the dugout roof to celebrate.
Conte’s English is good but he admits he has not had time to brush up on his lessons, and sometimes has to guess his answers to questions. But his players have been getting the message.
They have been worked hard this summer as Conte tries to imprint his method in their minds. Double sessions every day, and intense study of videos of matches and training. No stone is being left unturned.
“We have to improve,” he says.
“After the training session, video analysis. You can see the good and the bad, show players how to improve. Not because I want to find blame. Sometimes 20 or 30 minutes of video is more important than three training sessions.” — The Daily Express.
Online Reporter