Former Spurs coach Antonio Conte looked back at his time in North London, explaining that it was ‘strange’ for him to celebrate a fourth place finish. The former Azzurri coach was speaking with The Telegraph about his time in the Premier League and Serie A, beginning with his time with Tottenham, where he was dismissed last year:
“For me, to celebrate fourth place and a place in the Champions League was really strange,” said Conte. “At the end of the final game against Norwich, I called my staff and said ‘pay attention, don’t be used to celebrating a Champions League place’. I was very clear. I said we did the maximum. From ninth to fourth place, with all the problems we faced, was a miracle. But we didn’t celebrate like it was a miracle because I am used to winning.”
“Losing Vialli and Ventrone? For sure, it was one of the toughest moments of my life,” said Conte. “Gianluca Vialli, I had an important relationship with him. I met him three weeks before he died to have dinner with my wife and I keep that moment in my heart. And Gian Piero. In only six days (he died). It was really difficult to face this situation, also the death of Sinisa.
“When this type of situation happens, you can have horrible thoughts. You think about what can happen to another person very close to you, or if it can happen to you. It was a really difficult moment, with the Tottenham players too when Gian Piero died. We tried to overcome it, but I felt that also the players felt this horrible situation.”“Spurs? It was an important period with the Champions League, the FA Cup and with the league,” said Conte. “I preferred to come back quickly, but then I understood it was really soon. It was Daniel Levy who pushed me to go home and recover again. After the AC Milan game, when we lost 1-0 in the San Siro, he told me to stay in Italy to recover well because he didn’t like the way I looked and Tottenham’s doctors didn’t want me to take the risk. The club supported me really well.”
“At that moment, my feeling was that,” said Conte. “If I tell something, it means there is always something true. No, honestly, I don’t regret anything about this. But I have good feelings about Tottenham. I keep this experience in my heart.”
“During the season, it can happen that you need an honest conversation that can be positive or negative. I know very well, I was a player as well and some coaches told me good lies to keep me calm. I don’t want this type of situation. I know very well when you have these honest conversations with the players, in the first moment they can be a bit angry. Then, from my experience, the time helps the player to appreciate you. They were angry, but then they appreciate the honesty.”
“I took this time for me, for my family and to visit my parents,” said Conte. “My father pushed me to return quickly, but it is important to recharge, physically and mentally. Now my only problem is I have too much energy and I’m annoying my wife!”
So what is left for Conte to achieve? “Honestly, I’d like to lift the Champions League as a manager one day,” he replied. “But I know this is very difficult. People think this is simple, but you have to stay in the right club, a club that matches your ambition, a club that is ready to make the final step to win the Champions League. Look at Manchester City. Seven years, no?“I’d like to give this joy to my father. He said to me ‘I want to see you lift the Champions League’. It’s not simple, but everyone can have a dream.”
