Conte opens up about tactical approach, future target and exit speech at Tottenham

Antonio Conte insists he feels the responsibility to win without telling his players ‘good lies’ and dreams of winning the Champions League as a coach one day.

The Italian tactician released a long interview with The Telegraph, speaking about his tactical approach, his plans for the future and his time at Tottenham, his most recent experience as a coach.

Conte spent one and a half years in North London, leaving the club in March 2023.

In his final press conference at Tottenham, Conte blamed his players for not wanting to play under pressure.

“At that moment, my feeling was that. 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,” he said.

“I am this way. I hate the lies. This can help me sometimes or sometimes can hurt me. But I prefer to stay in silence than to tell a good lie – also the relationship with my players.

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“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.”

Conte continued the interview by talking about his approach on the pitch and what he expects from his players. The Italian tactician said that one day, we could see one of his teams play with a high line but insisted his three-man defence is not a defensive set-up.

“A high line means you must press a lot. You can bring your line high if there is pressure on the ball. Otherwise, it’s a big risk,” he noted.

“People think it’s a defensive system, this is not true. I repeat, it’s not true. You can see how many goals my teams score in every season.

“It doesn’t depend on three or four at the back, it depends on the way you build the team and build the attack. At the same time, it’s not good to be too offensive. And not too much defence. You have to respect the characteristics of the players and adapt to them. My experience tells me that if you want to win the league or lift a trophy, you need to have a stable team. Last season, Manchester City was the best example of a team with great balance, defensively and offensively.”

Conte has won four Serie A titles and one Premier League as a coach, among other trophies.