Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has spoken in-depth to Sky Sport Italia about his career in management. When the subject moved on to his current employer, he explained that; “If I had not signed for Chelsea I would have remained in charge of the national team, I could not have abandoned the lads”.
 

He continued by stating that; “The energy spent in France in the summer was immense and then I was thrown into this strange new world of the Premier League at a very big club”. Asked about his new boss Roman Abramovic he replied; “He’s demanding but is very passionate about his club. He always wants to know what is happening with the squad and he came to watch some of my early training sessions, which was wonderful”.  

On the differences between coaching in Italy and England he explained that; “Here the structure is extraordinary and I work more now than when I was in Italy. This job is defined by results and it’s stimulating even though my family are still back home in Italy. Other differences with Juve? There I knew everything and it was probably easier. Here everything is new but the level of players I have is fantastic. You know I hate losing so I try to avoid it as much as possible. My family says I should take defeat more serenely but I struggle to sleep. The day I start to feel more superficial is the day I give up the job”.

Steve Mitchell @barafundler