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Antonio Conte: I have great respect for Pep Guardiola!

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With there being so many proven top drawer managers in the Premier League this season, you’d be forgiven for struggling for an answer if asked to choose the best tactical mind in English football today.

One such contender comes in the form of Chelsea’s Antonio Conte, who has praised one of his many rivals, Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola, and claims he does not believe the Spaniard’s hints at retirement are not as serious as Pep would perhaps have you believe.

Guardiola claimed the end was not as far as City fans may have hoped, following the Citizens 2-0 triumph over Burnley, a worrying prospect for anyone from the sky blue side of Manchester; as the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich gaffer only took the reigns at the Etihad at the start of the 2016-17 campaign.

Speaking to the media, the Italian said;

“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,”

“Above all when you were a footballer and then quickly you became a manager. You spend a lot of energy. But not just physical energy, also mental energy. In some moments it can happen to think [about retiring].

“I’m sure that Pep wants to continue for a long time. I think his work is fantastic. When you decide to do this work it’s because you like this. You like to have this pressure that is enormous.”

Pep Guardiola’s retirement plans will only be known by the man himself, however, the praise from the former Juventus boss will come as no surprise to some, as there seems to be a mutual respect between the two coaches who faced off for the first time in Chelsea’s 3-1 away victory over City back in December, as Guardiola heaped the praise on Conte before the two’s Premier Leauge clash, stating:

“Conte is without doubt, one of the best, maybe the best coach in the world right now. They were contenders to win the Premier League from the beginning. Now, maybe more than before. It’s a good test for us. It is the first time we are going to face each other. It’s good to play against him. He made an exceptional job in Turin [with Juventus] and in the national job. It doesn’t matter if it is Serie A or the national team, you realise his strengths.”

“He has started here with maybe not good results, but they have won last seven games, conceding one goal. That says a lot about how good they are.”

Chelsea’s new man  in charge was also questioned regarding his own future in world football, his response was certainly lighter on the ears of Chelsea fans than Guardiola’s were when they fell on the Manchester City faithful;

“Sir Alex Ferguson is a good example for me. When I see him, but also when I see Arsene, they are a big example for me. I hope to have not completely their career, but 10 years, yes. It’s enough for me,” he stated.

“Twenty more years? Now I’m 47. I prefer that my wife doesn’t listen to this!

“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.”

Using Sir Alex Ferguson as an example certainly suggests that Antonio Conte aims to build a legacy in world football, much like the latter did during his tenure with Manchester United, which will be music to every Chelsea fans ears.

 

 

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