UTMOST RESPECT

Guardiola heaps praise on 'master' tactician Conte

ANTONIO Conte is a “master” tactician and the Chelsea manager has already changed the way clubs play in the Premier League, according to the Italian’s Manchester City counterpart Pep Guardiola.

Conte won the Premier League title in his debut season in England last year but the London outfit are currently struggling down in fifth place, 22 points behind runaway leaders City.

Chelsea are also two points behind Tottenham Hotspur in the race for a top-four finish that will ensure qualification for next season’s Champions League.

“I think Conte is going to leave something to English football. I am sure of that,” Guardiola told reporters as his side prepare to heap more misery on the champions in today’s clash at the Etihad Stadium.

Guardiola’s side will go into the match on the back of a 3-0 league victory over Arsenal on Thursday, while Chelsea lost their last league fixture 2-1 to Manchester United at Old Trafford last Sunday.

Conte, who led Italy to the Euro 2016 quarter-finals before joining Chelsea later that year, has been the subject of persistent British media reports suggesting he will leave the club after criticising their transfer policy this season.

Guardiola, however, feels the former Juventus boss has already left his mark on English football.

“What Antonio has done here in the Premier League, maybe the people don’t realise,” the former Barcelona boss said.

“He introduced another way to attack with five at the back, another system. A lot of teams, even Arsenal, had to do a lot of imitating to do that.

“Tactically, he is a master. He did it amazingly with the national team with Italy and when he went to Turin.”

Meanwhile, Conte has appeared to take another swipe at the club’s board by hinting their ambition does not match his own.

Chelsea’s title defence has been overshadowed by tensions between Conte and the Blues’ top brass; their differences mainly stemming from disagreements over the club’s transfer policy.

Conte says City’s magnificent season provides a example of the level of success that is possible if clubs match their manager’s ambition.

Conte said: “Manchester City had the possibility to spend a lot of money, when you link these two situations — a good manager and much money to spend in the transfer market — and have the same ambition, this is the final result.

“I have great ambition, but I don’t have money to spend for Chelsea. The club knows very well what is my idea, what is my ambition. That is very clear.

“That ambition must always be the same. When you decide to work with this type of coach, you must understand that you take a coach with great ambition.

“Not a loser but a winner. For this reason, you must understand this. When you have a good manager and a lot of money to spend, probably you can have a successful season.

“Is my ambition shared by them (the club)? I don’t know. Now it’s important (to focus on) the present, and staying to be focused on the present. These topics are for the future.

“I have great admiration for Pep, he showed himself to be a great coach. I think that, now, it will be very difficult for other teams to fight Manchester City.

“When you have a great coach and the possibility to spend a lot of money and keep happy your coach and your staff, it’s difficult for the others. Very difficult.

“This is a great danger for the panoramic of the other teams. For a long time. The situation is going to improve for City, not to stop.”