Chelsea Pitch Owners (CPO) are hosting a dinner tonight at Stamford Bridge, featuring none other than Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte as the guest of honor. With club legend Pat Nevin hosting the “special evening”, it’s sure to be a wonderful occasion for all involved.
Ahead of the event, Conte sat down for an exclusive interview with Chelsea official historian Rick Glanvill. I encourage you all to click over to the official Chelsea website, which turned 20 years old yesterday (Wednesday), and check it out. It’s full of all sort of wonderful Conte-isms, as the new boss looks to continue Chelsea’s Italian tradition (of which he’s been aware for some time) and eclipse the likes of Gianluca Vialli (who was teammate of his at Juventus) and Carlo Ancelotti (with whom he talked about the Chelsea experience before accepting the job).
“[Laughs] Yeah yeah [I saw Ancelotti on the open top bus in 2010]. But I want to overcome Carlo, and for sure I am able to overcome him. I’m sure I’ll eventually celebrate this situation, with great passion, with great enthusiasm. But I hope we must know that it will be very difficult.”
Beyond the usual stuff about work work work and fight fight fight and praise for the fans in the stands, Conte reveals that not only is Carlo Cudicini better at golf than Gianfranco Zola, but that the former goalkeeper is basically Conte’s personal translator and English language coach.
He also talks about the challenge of living abroad for the first time without his wife and daughter, and how he’s slowly developing new habits to deal with that. A few months ago he talked about the two of them eventually joining him here, so hopefully with a title win (and maybe even a new contract), a good solution can be found.
Solution — another Conte favorite. Whatever it takes to realize the “dream” of winning the league and celebrating with almighty passion. Forza!
“For me it was important, the first ever Scudetto in my career as a manager. As a footballer I won five, and to win the first Scudetto as manager was incredible for me. I celebrated a lot with my family, with the fans, with the players. Honestly, I hope to have this satisfaction to win the league in England. It would be fantastic for me, and I think I can realise a dream for me. I know that it won’t be easy, but we are working a lot to realise this dream. When it happens, I’m ready for every celebration for the fans.”
-Antonio Conte; source: Chelsea FC