Former Chelsea and Spurs manager Antonio Conte is walking like a dead man after Sunday’s defeat to Bologna, berating his players and claiming he “doesn’t want to accompany a dead man”.
Antonio Conte won the title in his first year at Chelsea, but was sacked a year later after a clash with Diego Costa. At Tottenham, the Italian was given an 18-month contract and immediately took the team back to the Champions League. But he left after 16 months after labeling his stars “selfish” during his infamous post-match rant against Southampton.
“If they want to continue this way, they can change the manager and many managers, but they can’t change the situation,” he argued.
Spurs have changed managers, but Conte remains the same. Two years on, and after attacking players after Sunday’s defeat to Bologna, Napoli released a statement on Wednesday saying he would not return to training until Monday and would remain at his home in Turin.
read more: Former Chelsea ace Oscar loses consciousness during training and is rushed to hospital with heart problemread more: Rasmus Hojlund named as furious Antonio Conte tears into Napoli team
After leaving Tottenham, his assistant Christian Stellini, who took over the role of manager for four games at Tottenham, received the training.
“Antonio Conte will return to the SSC Napoli training center on Monday, November 17, as already planned and agreed for some time with the club,” Napoli’s statement read.
The reigning Serie A champions will return to action against Atalanta on Saturday, November 22nd.
But in the ancient Greek city of Naples, history seems to be repeating itself for Conte. Despite taking the lead early in the season, the former Italy coach has repeatedly expressed his anger and frustration as players grow tired of his strict training methods.
He signed Romelu Lukaku for £30m, along with Scottish midfield duo Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour, and won the Scudetto in his first season at Napoli, but still hinted at leaving in the summer. Now, after bringing on Kevin De Bruyne and then Rasmus Hejlund, they have fallen to fourth place in Serie A, suffering their fifth defeat of the season at the Stadio Renata Dall’Ara.
Two of those losses have come in the Champions League, against Manchester City and last month’s 6-2 win over PSV Eindhoven, leaving them languishing in 24th place.
“We have to do something. We don’t want to accompany a dead man. We have to make this clear. If we want to do something together, that’s fine, but if we don’t, then everyone has to take responsibility. I always do that. If we want to do something together, that’s fine. I always do that,” Conte said after Napoli’s third consecutive clean sheet defeat to Bologna.
“I don’t like what I see, and ultimately I’m the first to take responsibility. Sometimes it’s easy to hide behind others, but until we have time, we all have to take responsibility.
“I don’t see any team trying to transcend chemistry or obstacles. I see everyone thinking about their own problems, but if we want to change this trend, there’s still time.”
Four managers have been changed in Serie A in the past two weeks, including Genoa’s Patrick Vieira and Atalanta’s former Saints manager Ivan Juric, who was sacked for the third time in 12 months.
However, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis issued a lengthy statement on social media, insisting that Conte will not become the fifth player. “I came across the ‘fairy tale’ of Mr. Conte’s resignation,” De Laurentiis wrote. “There has always been a special harmony between me and Conte.
“To the supporters who read this nonsense, I say: I am proud to have a real man like Antonio Conte on my side, on the side of Napoli and on the side of the players. With extreme generosity and dedication, he sacrifices every moment of his life for the sake of his profession.
“This is the biggest guarantee we can give to the club, the players and the demanding fans of a club like Napoli.”
But Conte’s only guarantee is that he will move on sooner or later. Lukaku, who helped Conte’s Inter Milan win the Scudetto in 2021, scored 14 goals last season, but has not played this season after suffering a thigh muscle tear in August.
Hoylund signed on loan from Manchester United and scored four goals in his first six games, but has not found the back of the net for the club since October 5. The Belgian striker hopes to return to action for next month’s Supercoppa Final Four in Saudi Arabia. But will Conte still be there when he returns?
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