Conte plays mind games with Spurs
Losing not a disaster for them, says Italian coach Pressure is on Chelsea to bounce back against City
In the lexicon of put-downs it was hardly brutal, but there was a pointed comment yesterday from Antonio Conte toward Tottenham Hotspur about the ground they occupy among the top flight’s most powerful clubs.
“I think the difference between Chelsea and Tottenham is this: if you stay in Chelsea and win, it’s normal. If you stay in Tottenham, if you win it’s great, great, but if you lose… it’s not a disaster, no? Not a disaster,” the Chelsea manager said, adding: “Because you find a lot of situations to explain a good season. But, I repeat, in this season, us and Tottenham stay in the same level. Chelsea were underdogs at the start of the season, but now we are top and we want to keep this position.”
With Chelsea facing Manchester City at home tonight, Conte was quick to include Pep Guardiola’s side among what he claimed were the three clubs now fighting it out for the title.
“I think you have to put also Manchester City in this run,” he said when asked whether, with the lead reduced to seven points by Spurs, it may come down to a battle between Chelsea and Mauricio Pochettino’s side, even if City are a further four points in arrears. “It’s important to see the result tomorrow. But this run must give you enjoyment. Also because, don’t forget nobody thought Chelsea, in this season, would fight for the title.”
Given Spurs have not won the title since 1961 and Chelsea are favourites to take it for the fifth time in the 14 years of Roman Abramovich’s ownership, and given the far greater financial muscle exerted from Stamford Bridge, then there is an obvious expectation that Chelsea will be more regular runners in the title race.
Conte has already produced an impressive body of work in lifting them from last season’s 10th place, without the reinforcements he hoped for, and he is right: few tipped Chelsea. But he also knows that having lost to Crystal Palace, and hosting City it is possible that, with Spurs away to Swansea City and at home to Watford on Saturday lunchtime, Chelsea’s lead could be cut to a point before they kick off again away to Bournemouth that evening.
Mind games? Maybe so. It is a sport Conte usually does not turn to. But he knows that this is not just the business end of the season but where the psychological blows can be landed. The Italian has been here before. A career of outstanding achievement – as a player and a manager – has also been studded with incredible near-misses and crushing disappointment.
Conte won five Italian league titles as a player with Juventus and a further three as coach; he won the Champions League as a player – but also lost three finals and lost a World Cup final and European Championship final as a player for Italy. What hurt, possibly most of all, was a collapse at Juventus when Conte was the captain and senior pro – and Carlo Ancelotti was coach – in 1999-2000. They had a sevenpoint lead with six games to go, only to be beaten to the title by Sven-Goran Eriksson’s Lazio. Conte later said he did not sleep for a week and that the experience shaped his managerial career.
“Defeat is part of our job, part of our culture,” he said. “You must accept it, but also try in the future to evolve away from defeats. I know only one way: work and work.” Conte worked after last Saturday’s loss. “I have to go through what happened, and then to restart,” he said.
Chelsea beat City 3-1 away last December in a feisty encounter, but as disappointing as Guardiola’s first campaign has been at the Etihad, there is an acceptance his team can beat anyone. Also, Guardiola has never lost twice in the league in the same season to one team.
There is a clear points target for Conte. “It’s normal with 27 points available, anything can happen,” he said. “We need 21 points to win the league mathematically. We are in a position that nobody thought that Chelsea could fight this season for the title. But... we want to keep this position.” And keep Spurs in theirs.