Antonio Conte says his famous touchline antics are for the benefit of his players.
The Italian is notorious for his dramatics on the sidelines, regularly seen racing in and out of his technical area and barking orders at his players.
Conte explains it is a considered approach to getting the best from his players. ‘It is for them. I am always trying to keep the tension high for the players,’ he said in an interview with GQ.
‘This is my coaching style and during the training session I try to give advice in every moment. I explain a tactical situation, the right movement at the right time, to help the player understand the right moment to press, to look around, to seek out space, and I like to speak a lot because I want to keep the intensity high. Not shouting. I speak. I talk.’
‘When a new coach comes to a new club with new ways, new ideas, the players have to adapt. It is not simple for them or for me. But my coaching has always been about giving as much advice as possible, so they know what to do at any moment. All my coaching life, I am the same, always on the touchline, the same way. I am in the game all the time. I am focused. I live my football intensely and I want them to.’
Asked if his players were listening, he said: ‘At first maybe not, because maybe they are not used to having their ears open in this way when they are playing, but slowly, slowly they adapt.’ Explaining what he’s trying to achieve when he is particularly animated, Conte said:
‘I am not angry. I am focused. I am really concentrating on the game. But if you see me like that it means there is something wrong and I am trying to fix it.’
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