Andrea Innocenti Former Napoli coach Antonio Conte spent his last few days in London having a long chat with a major British sports newspaper. During the meeting, he recounted the most significant moments of his life, both as a player and as a coach, without hiding his frustrations and his insatiable quest for victory.
The recurring theme was clear: if he were to return to the bench midway through the season, the decision would only be made if the challenge proved truly tempting.
The Apulian coach also launched a broader reflection on the international football landscape, underlining the difference in economic power between the Premier League and other European leagues.
For him, the Premier League is a bazooka firing at full speed, while the continental leagues are still wielding pistols . But financial power, he warns, must be used wisely, otherwise it risks becoming a brake on competitive authenticity.
Conte's "hunger for victory" tune
During the interview, Conte bitterly recalled the two finals he lost with the Italian national team – the 1994 World Cup in the United States and Euro 2000 – as well as the three Champions League finals he lost to Juventus (96-97, 97-98, 02-03).
Those moments, he believes, forged a competitive determination that he tries to pass on to his players today. "I've won a lot, but I've also experienced the most brutal defeat. Because a lost final can't be postponed until tomorrow; it's the only opportunity that matters," he said.
This mentality has guided him to the most significant successes of his coaching career: a Scudetto with Juventus, another with Inter, Napoli's historic victory in 2023, and the Premier League title with Chelsea in the 2016-17 season. However, his most recent experiences have not lived up to his expectations, fueling a growing need for rebirth and concrete challenges.
Premier League: The bazooka against guns
Conte didn't hesitate to call the Premier League a veritable economic bazooka , capable of producing multimillion-dollar signings and astronomical salaries. "Here, the resources are such that they can buy almost anything," he observed, while also emphasizing that managing such money is a delicate art. "In other leagues, they still use guns; it's an unbalanced power relationship that can create competitive injustices."
The coach warned, however, that simply having money doesn't guarantee success. A strategic vision is needed, along with the ability to turn those "shots" into concrete results. For him, the key is to let the results on the pitch speak for themselves, not just the balance sheets.
Which clubs could welcome the coach?
Looking to the future, Conte expressed a clear desire: to join a club with a history rich in trophies but currently seemingly lost its bearings. "There are many clubs today that are under constant pressure, but have lost their winning identity. I would like to dust off that past and make it shine again," he stated.
Past experiences and recent disappointments
His move to Tottenham in 2021 ended in 2023 without winning a single trophy, a period he himself described as "his only unsuccessful experience" outside of Italy. His brief stint at Atalanta was also unsuccessful. These disappointments helped strengthen his belief that football requires hard work and consistency, not just words of encouragement.
Goals and criteria for a new adventure
When describing the ideal club, Conte speaks of a team "that has won Scudetti, Champions Leagues, and international titles, but now needs a spark." Among the implied names are Juventus, Milan, Chelsea, and Manchester United, clubs that have all experienced periods of stagnation. His message is an invitation: if a club wants to compete for major trophies again, it needs "an approach that puts the coach at the center of the project, a balance and true chemistry" between staff, players, and management.
“If there's a chance to restore luster to a glorious history and the protagonists believe in victory, then I'm worth the effort. Otherwise, I prefer to wait for the right opportunity.”