Football is life, without it we die, says Conte
ANTONIO CONTE has admitted that he, like Pep Guardiola, has considered quitting the game in his lowest moments as a football manager, but insists will never act on the thought, because without football he ‘would die.’
Guardiola sparked astonishment last week when he said in an interview with NBC that he was nearing the end of his coaching career at the age of 45, with two and half years left on his contract at Manchester City.
Conte, 47, admits that sheer intensity of the top-level management might have prompted an off-guard comment from Guardiola but prefers to aim at the longevity of Alex Ferguson, who managed until the age of 71, and Arsene Wenger, who is 67.
‘In Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger you are talking about two monsters, two great managers. I hope to have, maybe not completely their career, but 10 more years, yes. It’s enough for me. Twenty more years? Now I’m 47. I prefer that my wife doesn’t listen to this!
‘But this is our life. Football is our life, with this pressure, with all that comes with it. Football is our life and it’s right to continue to live in football. In the moment that football is not in our life, I think probably we die.’
And Conte expects that, like him, Guardiola won’t be able to give up his life as a top-class coach. ‘I have great respect for Pep and I think that when you have a method, when you have a philosophy of football, an idea you want to bring in every team you manage, you spend a lot of energy,’ said Conte. ‘But not just physical energy. Also mental energy. But I’m sure that Pep wants to continue for a lot of time’