Conte talks a good game, but Abramovich needs to back his man to the hilt and sign the players the Italian needs if ambition and hope are to be realised.
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The lounge is where Antonio Conte sits as he vows that players will find themselves in “trouble” if they do not respect his tough working methods, and where he speaks of his ambition to help Chelsea stars like Eden Hazard become “top, top, top talents” at the level of Lionel Messi.
Conte is a training ground manager who spoke repeatedly about “transferring his ideas” to his squad.
“I am very, very happy the club have bought this player”, he told a post-match news conference at the Allianz Stadion. At Chelsea, he’s hadn’t even pulled up in the vehicle park and seemingly key players were becoming exceedingly hard to coerce into joining his blue revolution.
“The physical aspect, strength aspect – I think it is a bit normal to meet these difficulties in this game but I don’t like to lose and it is the same for my players”.
The Blues had completed the signing of N’Golo Kante earlier in the day, but the arrival failed to inspire anything other than a disappointing display from his new side, who were thoroughly outplayed by their hosts. He’s the captain of this team and a great player, with great personality and great charisma.
He is the only player at the club who wouldn’t mind sitting on the bench for an entire season without touching the ball provided his weekly wages are been paid. “All of that will be vital for that dressing room given the season and difficulties they had last season”, the 47-year-old explained.
“I have found the right behaviours and attitudes in Cobham, and I am very happy about this”. I always give that to the players but I demand the same.
“He knows me very, very well and for me, the most important thing is education and respect”, he added.
Rapid had already played six pre-season games before Saturday and looked the much sharper of the two teams and Chelsea’s rustiness showed as they went 1-0 down before the ten minute mark.
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“It’s important for us to recover Hazard in the best condition, technique, tactical, physical, overall and with the good mentality”, Conte said. “If you want to win, you need this type of player”. To fight to come back very soon and compete to win the title. “It’s very important because we know what this team needs. I think that this is the right moment for me to arrive in England”.
