Antonio Conte expresses disappointment about Chelsea’s preseason loss to Rapid Vienna after several days of intense training.
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“I want to say Kante was a target and for this reason I’m very happy the club bought the player”, he said. “I think with this player we’ve reinforced the squad”.
The raucous atmosphere more resembled a Champions League fixture than a friendly, and a Rapid side that began their preseason more than a month ago were determined to rise to the occasion with a victory. They only managed 59 goals in 38 games, 14 less than their title winning season in 2014/15, with Diego Costa as the club’s leading scorer on a paltry 12 league goals for the season.
“This first game for us, I know it was very hard after three days of training double every day”, he explained.
There were raised eyebrows when Papy Djilobodji was confirmed as John Terry’s centre-back partner on Saturday – neither he nor Victor Moses were credited with shirt numbers on the official teamsheet – but in truth Conte had few other options. He showed last season he’s able to play with another midfielder.
‘Cuadrado is a Chelsea player and I am waiting for him.
“I wanted him when I was a coach at Juventus and he will come back very soon and train and play with us. I love this. Hopefully when the players understand this we have a fantastic relationship”.
Jose Mourinho’s former side, who claimed the Premier League title in 2015, slumped before the Portuguese’s sacking, which led to the appointment of Guus Hiddink.
Conte said he felt the defeat in Austria would prove “very important” in terms of learning lessons. Between great teams, between great players. these are the most important things.
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“I know that when I arrived in Juventus, Juventus had just had two seventh places in the previous two seasons and then we built something”. Conte has fulfilled a burning ambition to manage in the English top flight and has already been a breath of fresh air at Stamford Bridge, having officially started work on Wednesday.
