ANTONIO CONTE said so much by saying so little as he ponders ‘second- season syndrome’ as Chelsea manager.
We had a slip of the finger when he fired off his controversial text message to Diego Costa, which is still having huge repercussions. And now an innocuous slip of the tongue sums up the communication problems that exist between Conte and the Stamford Bridge boardroom.
As a Prem champion, the Italian should be more relaxed than ever. Yet his perma-smile has faded a tad and there is a more abrasive, curt edge to him.
It is as if something changed over the summer. A brief period when Conte earned the right to wallow in glory and show off his medal. Not so.
Conte said: “Honestly, I don’t know where my wife put it.
“I repeat, I don’t like to turn round and see the past. I like to see the present, to work for the present and to try to improve for the future. I enjoyed that moment a lot. But now this is the past.
“Now it’s important to try to write another story with Chelsea. “It’s beautiful if you see the past — but the most important thing now is to build a really good future for the club.
“Now, after a year of experience, I have learned a lot.
“For this reason, I think I am more relaxed and am enjoying the situation more than last season. That’s my impression, anyway. Honestly.
“I am still having lesson language.” A private tutor, two hours every day, three days a week and yet word order is still an issue. And so is buying players — full stop.
It kind of symbolises where we are at with a club that has a plotline for every player.
There is a sense of tension behind the scenes. Conte is desperate to get new bodies in: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Danny Drinkwater, Ross Barkley, Danny Rose. Conte can handle it but there is a distinct feeling that the grin and the endearing way he fumbles with the microphone when searching for an answer in press conferences will not return until he gets the players he wants in — and those he wants out.
He said: “It’s normal. When you are at a great team, this is normal.
“If you see also when you stay in Italy, at a club like Juventus or Inter Milan, it’s the same. “Honestly, I’m very calm. I’m relaxed much better than last season. Yeah, much better.
“Every season is tough. Maybe this season will be tougher than last season.
“Also, because we won last season. Also because, we play the Champions League. But we must be ready to fight.”
From The Sun
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