Antonio Conte was furious with ‘selfish’ Tottenham players after a 3-3 draw against Southampton and surely it wasn’t the first time he got mad during a press conference in his coaching career. Here are three memorable times the Italian tactician lost his cool in front of the media.
Siena – ‘Don’t get on the bandwagon!’
February 2011. Conte was in charge of Serie B side Siena and was en route to securing his second promotion to Serie A. However, the Bianconeri had been criticised by some fans and media due to a bad run of form. Conte strongly defended the team at a press conference on the eve of a league match against Modena.
“I’ve had enough hearing so many bulls**** from alleged football pundits. This team has never been loved. In January, any other club bought new players and we sold them to reduce the wage bill. We signed players nobody wanted, dead players,” he said.
“We always hear criticism and boos but we are having an important season. These are not real fans. They should praise these lads. We can do more, of course, but also Barcelona can do more. If you don’t understand our efforts it’s not my problem. I defend the team and my work, a great work. Luckily, Conte is here. There is no gratification, nothing. These people don’t love Siena. Real fans are close to us, the organised groups, the others are not. If we go to Serie A, don’t get on the f****** winner’s bandwagon.”
Juventus – Match-fixing ban
The Italian tactician was in charge of Juventus in 2012 when he was banned for 10 months in relation to a match-fixing scandal, dating back to a Serie B meeting between Novara and Siena in the 2010-11 campaign. Conte was cleared of allegations in a criminal trial years later but had been forced to miss Juventus’ opening games in the 2012-13 campaign. The Italian tactician had refused a plea deal, claiming his innocence, but he was initially banned by the FIGC court for failing to report the match-fixing.
During a press conference to explain his position in August 2012, Conte produced some of his most iconic quotes as a coach.
“I’ve been linked to match-fixing for six months but I’ve never gambled in my life,” he claimed.
“It was said that I had told my players that Novara-Siena would have been a draw. So, after preparing the match, after talking about motivations and all that, do you think I told 25 players that we’d settle for a draw? Making myself ridiculous in front of them and their families? I’ve become the manifesto of the match-fixing scandal. Me, someone who has never gambled! The plea deal is like blackmail from the sporting justice. It’s shameful! Today I can say it.
“Am I annoying because I am a winner? It’s not my problem. I demand the best from myself and then from my players. Everything happening to me is absurd. Everyone must know, Juventus fans must know what they are doing to me because it’s shameful.
“They say I failed to report, but I didn’t know anything, so what was I supposed to report? What are we talking about? It’s a message to players and my colleagues. Today it’s happening to me. Tomorrow, it could happen to them. It’s shocking! What they say is shocking!”
He used the Italian word ‘agghiacciante’ which has often been used in Italy when Conte rages in front of the media.
Italy – Balotelli
Fast forward to November 2014. His Italy side had just beaten Albania in an international friendly at Marasi in Genoa thanks to a goal of Stefano Okaka, but the Italian tactician didn’t seem happy with questions about Mario Balotelli and why the striker hadn’t been called up for the game.
“Are we still talking about Balotelli? With all the problems Italian football has, we are still talking about Balotelli going or not going clubbing. I think it’s ridiculous and absurd. I repeat, ridiculous and absurd. That being said. This team had five wins and one draw in six games. So try to beat us.”
Conte continued by blaming Serie A coaches.
“What I am seeing is a lack of consideration for the national team. It is seen as something annoying. I want to work hard, but I must be put in the right conditions. If you want to support me, if you me to have an impact, as I am doing, that’s what you need, if not we have a big problem.”