Conte weighs next move after Chelsea success, eyes Napoli
Antonio Conte, who was in London a few days ago, sat down with The Athletic to outline his coaching method, philosophy and the milestones of his career, from a silver World Cup medal to his Chelsea triumph and his thoughts on Napoli.
Chelsea success and player signings
Conte recalled that his first season at Chelsea produced a Premier League title despite the league already boasting managers such as Guardiola, Mourinho and Klopp. "We won as underdogs. We didn’t make big signings, only David Luiz, Marcos Alonso and Kante," he said, adding that the club asked him ten times whether he was sure about the player. He described the newcomer as "tall and handsome" and admitted he initially doubted his physique, but was convinced of his quality.
Tottenham stint and reflections
He arrived at Tottenham midway through a campaign, motivated by the desire to change things and by the presence of Paratici. When he took charge, the side were ninth in the table and later finished in the quarter‑finals ahead of Arsenal. After a defeat he wrote to president Levy, who replied, "don’t worry, we’ll win the next one". Conte said hearing critics claim "Tottenham will never win anything" was irritating, especially after Arsenal’s 3‑0 loss to Brighton sparked jokes about a "Tottenham transformation".
Napoli and future ambitions
De Laurentis claimed that, without injuries, Conte would have become the first manager to win two consecutive Serie A titles with Napoli. Conte disagreed, insisting that Inter deserved the crown after reaching a Champions League final and strengthening their squad. He called his Napoli experience wonderful but energy‑intensive, and now watches the situation calmly, studying games and adapting new tactical ideas.
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When asked about direction and vision, Conte highlighted that coaches such as Arteta, Klopp and Guardiola define a clear path for their clubs. He cited Como, where Fabregas has a voice, and Luis Enrique’s success in convincing PSG to follow him as examples of alignment between coach and club.
Looking ahead, Conte said he might consider a mid‑season takeover if it "was worth it". He wants to revive clubs that have lost sight of their history, restoring pressure and ambition rather than merely participating. He also praised Barcelona’s academy, noting how Masia youngsters integrate naturally at 18 in front of 100,000 fans, and expressed a desire to visit that perfectly aligned set‑up.
Regarding the Premier League, Conte warned that "today in England they use bazookas, elsewhere still pistols" and stressed the need for wise spending of money.