Antonio Conte, the current Napoli coach and former Juventus player and manager, has given an interview (as quoted by IlBianconero) to Corriere della Sera, reflecting on his recent Scudetto triumph with Napoli and sharing candid stories from his career. Conte addressed rumours about a possible return to Juventus, his personal sacrifices, and the pivotal moments that shaped his journey in football.
On the Juventus Rumors: “I Have Not Had Contact With Anyone”
When asked whether he had been in touch with Juventus after winning the league with Napoli, Conte was clear:
“I have not had contact with anyone because to anyone who tried to reach me through third parties, I always replied that I would speak with the club at the end of the season, as is always done. And only if the meeting had not satisfied both parties would I have considered another situation, since I still have a contract with Napoli for another two years.”
The Mask and the Locker Room Incident
Conte recalled a memorable moment from his time at Juventus:
“The only times I wear a mask. It happened at Juventus: we were winning 2-0, but I realized something was wrong. So during halftime I went into the locker room, threw a plastic bottle at the board, and started shouting. Many thought I was crazy, but that result could have changed if we hadn’t kept the same hunger and focus. The key is sensing these kinds of risks and intervening.”
Personal Sacrifices: “There Is Always a Price to Pay”
Conte spoke openly about the personal cost of his career:
“My work often takes me away from my family. Not having seen all the moments of my daughter’s growth has been a great deprivation. Seeing her suddenly grown makes you bitterly aware that you missed some steps. There is always a price to pay for everything. I wrote this book to give even more dignity to the sense of work. Hard work is also a medicine against mental stress.”
The Decision to Stay at Napoli
On whether his wife Betta influenced his decision to remain in Naples, Conte explained:
“My family is a point of reference, but certain choices I make myself. My wife and daughter are very happy in Naples, and that’s a fact. But I am the one who has to coach a team every day; they have nothing to do with it.”
On His Relationship With De Laurentiis
Conte described his recent meeting with Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis as crucial:
“In our meeting, we cleared things up; talking was fundamental. He understood the mistakes or at least the situations that need to be improved. I have a contract, and the clarification was the key point. The rest were just rumors that hurt, not taking into account who I am.”
First Start With Juventus: A Lesson in Resilience
Conte reflected on his debut as a starter for Juventus:
“In my first match as a starter with Juventus, I found myself on the front page of a national newspaper with the headline ‘In the Principality, Conte makes a mistake.’ It was my first real match and I made a terrible error. I started doubting whether I could play at this level. I even thought, ‘Why did I do this?’ In Lecce, I was with my friends, my family, I went to the beach until November. In Turin, I was alone, 21 years old, with my idols Schillaci, Tacconi, Baggio, but at first I felt out of place. If someone had told me then what I would win in 13 years, I would have thought, ‘They’re out of their mind.’ But that humiliating back pass pushed me to react. Trapattoni, one of the best coaches I ever had, saw me down and said, ‘You’re not still thinking about yesterday, are you?’ Something clicked in me. I didn’t want to go back to Lecce defeated. I think a coach, just like Trapattoni did with me, must know how to reach the heart and mind of the players. The legs are probably the last thing.”
