Antonio Conte labels Norway as ‘a tricky team’ and asserts his Italy will have a competitive and respectful mindset.
The Azzurri begin competitive life under their new CT with the start to Euro 2016 qualifying in Oslo on Tuesday evening.
Antonio Conte labels Norway as ‘a tricky team’ and asserts his Italy will have a competitive and respectful mindset.
The Azzurri begin competitive life under their new CT with the start to Euro 2016 qualifying in Oslo on Tuesday evening.
On from taking questions on the Giorgio Chiellini issue, La Nazionale’s new boss has turned attention to tomorrow’s opponents and his start.
“I have many emotions, but they include great joy and happiness. It is the first qualifier and we want to do well,” Conte has insisted in his pre-match conference from the Ullevaal Stadion.
“I also expect a good performance. I hope that you will see a team that can play football with the desire to win, regardless of who we play.
“Norway are a tricky team, compact and attentive in defence. They are a team to be handled with care, we have to have respect for everyone. We go into the field with a competitive spirit, intensity.
“We do not expect anything to be easy. We will have to be very careful. The team? Buffon will play in goal… the rest you know…”
“The players have worked well [in training], I am happy with what we have done over the past few days.
“They have made themselves available and have understood enough my idea of football that I want to propose. I am convinced that we are on the right track, beyond the result.
“Differences to club football? At a club it is easier to convey your ideas because you are working every day.
“In a national team it is a little more difficult, but it did help in having the guys here who already knew me. The difference is that in nine days you have to do the work that you would usually do in a month.”
Conte was asked about his relationship with his players and his management of them.
“I do not think that wins will be the only way to find credibility with the players. I have to earn credibility every day, always trying to have respect and demanding respect.
“You can do a lot, but in just a day lose that credibility.
“Eight years ago I was on the other side of the fence and I know what the players think and that there are situations in your spare time where you can have fun.
“Am I a tough guy? I will not treat them as youngsters because they are men not children.
“It is inevitable, then, that for an hour-and-a-half in training I ask for the best. I am a person who tries to enforce the rules.
“If I am the only one to behave then I will start to worry because this is the fundamental condition for success. It's what [Carlo] Mazzone, [Eugenio] Fascetti and [Giovanni] Trapattoni were doing.
“The important thing, however, is the idea of football and I am interested in this idea attracting the players.”