ON A HIGH!
But firestarter Conte wants more
ANTONIO CONTE is determined to keep the home fires burning.
Chelsea’s title-winning boss will use part of his multi-million pound bonus to buy a house in his native Italy and then insist his players light more fires.
The little Italian arrived last summer and said at the time: “There is small flame flickering here that can turn into a blazing inferno.”
On the eve of their final home game against relegated Sunderland, which is expected to be an emotional occasion for skipper John Terry, Conte said: “I think that we started to light the fire. This is important.”
He will not accept his side tailing off, demanding they secure a record 30 Premier League wins.
“We must have a winning mentality. If you have the winning mentality, you want to continue to win every season,” he said.
“It’s not easy because, above all in England, there are many teams who want to do the same things. But we have to continue to work very hard, maybe stronger than this season, to try to repeat a good season.
“But when you have the winning mentality and you want to win every game – if there is someone that is happy to see his past, he’s not a winner. He’s a loser.
“The past is good. The past is beautiful if you won in your past. You can see your past. But in the present and the future, it’s not important if you are a winner. If you are a loser then you always stay looking behind you and you won’t win.”
And looking ahead to today’s game, Conte wants another win – there will certainly be no relaxing.
The Chelsea boss said: “I hate this word, relaxed. Relax, relax – I hate this word.
“I prefer to use the word enjoy instead. Enjoy your achievement. We had a path, a very difficult path, this season so it’s important to enjoy the win with the players, the club and the fans.”
Conte refused to say who else might be leaving along with Terry, with rumours Diego Costa (right) might play next season either in China or back in Spain.
He said: “It’s very difficult to answer this question because it’s important to be focused on finishing the league. Then, together with the club, we have to take the best decision for next season.” Crystal Palace manager Sam Allardyce got £2million for avoiding relegation and Conte’s bonus will not be small either. The former Juventus boss added: “Good bonus? It depends which way you want to see this bonus. How will I reward myself ? I think maybe to buy a house in Italy. Yes. Vineyard? I like red wine.” Meanwhile, Eden Hazard admits Chelsea lacked motivation last season and says the Premier League champions will be in trouble next term should they let standards slip. Chelsea’s form tailed off so badly that boss Jose Mourinho left the club in December 2015. Hazard said: “That’s football. Sometimes you are on the top, two years ago we won also the league. But last season was difficult for some reasons. “Sometimes motivation is not on top and fitness is not. “This season we started well and we won the league but next season we will be in trouble if we don’t work hard.”