Conte hits back after Dyche dig
ANTONIO CONTE has hit back at Sean Dyche after Burnley’s manager suggested the Italian is considered a tactical genius because he is foreign but would be labelled a dinosaur if he were English.
The pair meet on the touchline when Chelsea take on Burnley at Stamford Bridge this afternoon after Dyche complained that foreign managers get an easier ride than the Brits, citing Conte as an example of one who is hailed for his defensive coaching.
But Conte dismissed Dyche’s criticism yesterday and insisted that the better managers are recognised because of their achievements and not merely words.
‘There are dinosaurs and geniuses in all departments all over the world — in Italy, England, Argentina, Spain, Germany,’ Conte said. ‘You have to understand who is the dinosaur and who is the genius. That’s what you have to judge.
‘You can find the best and the worst all over the world. It’s important for clubs to make the right choice. The manager is important when you have a project to build something. You have to recognise who is the better and the worst and not only with words, but with the facts.’
If one looks at the facts, Conte has won three Serie A titles and the Italian Super Cup at Juventus, and managed his country to the quarter-finals of a European Championship, while Dyche has twice guided Burnley into the Premier League, once as Championship winners and once as runners-up.
Dyche said earlier this month: ‘There is a thirst for foreign coaches who are always tactical geniuses. There is still a thirst from the populous for foreign managers and foreign players. They’re a bit more snazzy — let’s see what this Belgian manager or this Argentine manager can do. Antonio Conte came in at Chelsea and he got commended for bringing a hard, fast, new leadership to Chelsea, which involved doing 800 metre runs, 400m runs and 200m runs.
‘Come to my training and see Sean Dyche doing that and you’d say, “Dinosaur, a young English dinosaur manager, hasn’t got a clue”. So is it perception or is it fact? I have no problem with it. It’s the reality I say. Perception is radically different to what is going on with young English managers.
‘Conte I thought was interesting because if you saw us doing that you’d say we’re running them round in circles. At Chelsea now, everyone thinks it’s amazing, incredible — they’re working really hard.’
Conte, meanwhile, also conceded that Chelsea will struggle to land all of their transfer targets before the window shuts next week due to the ‘crazy’ market, but insists he has no problem convincing potential signings that they will soon play Champions League football again.
He said: ‘In the Roman Abramovich era, Chelsea always played in the Champions League. You can’t play for one season, but at Chelsea you always can (again).’