GOODBYE HELLO CRAZY CONTE KING OF COOL
Conte vows to calm down after admitting his touchline antics leave him 'destroyed" and half a stone lighter every game
HE shoved a coach, ripped his trousers, and jumped in with fans as his passion bubbled over on the touchline last season.
And Antonio Conte has now revealed the side-effects of his madcap celebrations as Chelsea boss.
The Italian believes he lost around half a stone in every game as he ‘kicked every ball’, disputed every decision, and micro-managed Blues to the title.
Conte, who has a strict regime to maintain his fitness, revealed he is aiming to calm down as he gets older, starting this season.
“I finish the game and I’m destroyed,” said the 47-year-old.
“I think I lose two-to-three kilos during the game. For sure in the future my strength will be less and then maybe I will try to keep myself calm and more seated.”
One of most decorated players in Juventus history, Conte inspired the Old Lady to five titles and the Champions League. He also reached the final of both the World Cup and European Championship with Italy.
As Juventus head coach he won Serie A three times while as Italy head coach he coaxed the best out of an average squad.
Here in England his antics first caught the eye as he raced down the touchline and leapt into the crowd to celebrate Diego Costa’s late winner against West Ham last August.
Conte revealed the roots of his intensity come from his indomitable spirit as a player, along with his determination to reach the top.
“If you saw me as a footballer, when I played I always showed a great passion.” he added.
“You saw Antonio Conte during the game showing passion.
“The will to fight, to overcome difficulty with a run, with heart. When the technique doesn’t arrive at the best level, arrive with your heart, with enthusiasm, with passion, with work.
“I think I transferred this to my coaching, but with more talent than I had as a player.”
Conte wants his Chelsea players to push themselves in similar fashion as they begin their title defence with big challenges from Manchester, Liverpool and London.
“My talent as a footballer was medium.” he added. “But I had heart, a will to win, a will to work to overcome my limitations.
“I knew very well that it was going to be difficult for me to become a top player but I always stayed at a good level.
“To be captain and win a lot at Juventus, to play for 20 years, to play in the World Cup, European Cup, I think I had a good career, no?
“I was a good player. I tried to transfer all my passion to my work. Now during the game I try to stay together with my players in the positive and negative situations.
“I know that in the future it will be very difficult to continue to do this because to stay on the touchline and have this passion you must have a lot of strength.”