Antonio Conte is the symbol of everything great about football. His passion on the touchline adds a breath of fresh air to the Premier League, but will he succeed at Chelsea?
When Conte lashed out at his Italian team by volleying the ball into the stands during Euro 2016, he almost got himself sent off. But for fans across the continent, it was a refreshing image of how much the game meant to him.
Conte demands his players execute every detail of the gameplan. He won’t settle for anything below maximum effort, and his passionate persona is contagious.
Italy didn’t have the best squad on paper at this summer’s European Championship, but they sure looked like it at times, largely down to Conte’s leadership. Tactically Italy were brilliant, and each player put everything on the line to win.
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Conte will bring the same energy and mentality to the Premier League. It will be hard for players to dislike his personality, but will he be able to meet expectations in a very different environment?
Will his style of three at the back with two strikers be effective in England? Will his tactics suit the frantic pace of the Premier League, or will he need to make adjustments?
Perhaps the biggest question facing Conte, as has been the case for a number of recent Chelsea managers, is whether he can handle the egos in the locker room.
Behind the scenes, Chelsea has too often been a toxic environment for coaches. Andre Villas-Boas was driven out of town with the squad turning against him. It sure looked evident Jose Mourinho suffered the same fate last season before being dismissed for the second time.
Conte certainly has the personality to handle the egos. He’s a leader. Carlos Tevez was commonly regarded as a difficult player to manage, yet some of his best performances were under Conte at Juventus.
Conte won’t try to dominate possession like Pep Guardiola will at Manchester City. This Chelsea team will be more direct, looking to attack in numbers with speed. Without the ball, they will be aggressive and press high up the field. Conte will have his players working extremely hard. They have to for his system to succeed.
But how will Conte fare when matched up with the likes of Guardiola, Jose Mourinho and Jurgen Klopp? The unique blend of styles each manager likes to operate will be fascinating.
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has been particularly cutthroat with his managers in the past. It’s a results business, and Conte will be judged on how many Premier League and Champions League titles he brings to Stamford Bridge.
A top-four finish will likely be good enough this year, but he will need to push on with this squad for Abramovich to keep him around.
Guardiola will want to bring sustained success to City. Mourinho will make Manchester United contenders once more, and Klopp is building the foundations of a title contender at Liverpool. Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham team will be right up there again also.
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Conte’s style of play will succeed in the Premier League, and his Chelsea team will be regular contenders for the title. The difference between winning the league regularly of falling short will ultimately determine his fate.