With Antonio Conte and Roberto De Zerbi meeting in Brighton-Tottenham tomorrow, Giancarlo Rinaldi looks at the differences and the common traits of the two Italian tacticians.
They might both be Italian but there is a world of difference between Antonio Conte and Roberto De Zerbi. Born about 10 years and 1,000 kilometres apart, their footballing backgrounds could hardly be more contrasting. It makes for a mouthwatering clash as they collide once more this weekend in the new surroundings of the Amex Stadium.
The Spurs boss spent most of his playing days in the upper echelons of the game after grafting his way up from Lecce to Juventus to the Italian national team. He more than made up for what he lacked in flair with effort and determination in a trophy-laden career. He became a perfect embodiment of the Bianconeri’s belief in winning as the only thing that matters.
His Brighton counterpart never flew anything as high during his time on the pitch, with plenty of time in the lower divisions and a peak, probably, with 30-odd games or so with Napoli. More attack-orientated than Conte, he jumped around clubs – including a spell with Cluj in Romania – with mixed results. Anyone who saw him in action, though, would not have been surprised that he would make a smart tactician in the years to come.
What the pair do have in common, however, is their willingness to serve an apprenticeship in the coaching game before stepping up to bigger posts. The Tottenham man was at Arezzo, Bari, Atalanta and Siena before, almost inevitably, Juventus came calling. De Zerbi had spells with Foggia, Palermo and Benevento prior to getting a prolonged spell in Serie A with Sassuolo. Both men have been willing to work abroad, too, with decent results.
Their paths have crossed before – when they were at Inter and Sassuolo respectively – and Conte has yet to taste defeat. Indeed, his opposite number has conceded an eye-watering 12 goals in their four previous encounters and managed just a single draw. If nothing else, their latest clash should be entertaining.
Their playing careers, too, hint at differences in their managerial approaches. The former Italy boss is all about winning and is just as ferocious in his determination to achieve that end as he was when he still had his boots on. De Zerbi, it would be fair to say, enjoys more of a reputation for being ready to entertain as well as delivering results.
Down the years, Conte has favoured a 3-5-2 formation in Italy but has been more 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-3 in England, which has allowed his teams to be tactical chameleons. They can cover up when they need to and hit you on the break but, at their best, they can also destroy opponents down the flanks with their flying wing-backs. All of it is done with intensity from the touchline, which is never anything other than relentless.
The man newly appointed at Brighton mostly played with a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3 in his Sassuolo days where his team gained a reputation as a we’re-going-to-score-one-more-than-you kind of side. Players like Domenico Berardi and Manuel Locatelli flourished under an approach which made them one of the best teams to watch in Serie A. It never quite delivered the European football they aspired to, but it earned them plenty of plaudits.
He was an intriguing appointment following the departure of Graham Potter and one which caused a few Carlo Ancelotti-like raised eyebrows and the odd dismissive comment. However, De Zerbi showed immediately against Liverpool – as much as any coach can make an instant impact – that his team will pack a punch if he is given time to work his magic. It is a pretty safe bet that they will not be dull to watch.
There have been times when as many as four Italian managers have jousted it out in the Premier League but Conte was left as the last man standing in January when Claudio Ranieri’s brief tenure at Watford came to an end. What is guaranteed when two coaches from that country come together is a level of tactical intensity that is second to none. Expect a few surprises, early substitutions or complete in-game overhauls as they lock horns.
Whoever wins that particular chess game will surely emerge with the upper hand, although it is clear that the Spurs man has the edge in the personnel at his disposal – especially given the new toys he was given in the summer. However, his opposite number has shown he can deliver quality dishes out of less-fancied ingredients and will fancy himself to do so once more in England. He joins a club that already has a reputation for causing a few surprises and will back himself to treat the Seagulls to a few more tasty snacks in the coming weeks.
It’s not quite David and Goliath this Saturday evening, but the London side must go into it as favourites despite being away from home. However, the nationality of the two coaches adds another element of intrigue and excitement into the mix – especially for those who followed the pair back in Serie A. There are enough little plots, twists, and turns to make for a thriller when the two teams clash. Even Inspector Montalbano would struggle to be certain of a solution to the mystery of which of the two will come out on top.
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