In a recent interview with The Athletic, Antonio Conte opened up about his managerial experiences in the Premier League, contrasting his successful tenure at Chelsea with the complex challenges he faced at Tottenham Hotspur. The Italian coach, who recently departed Napoli after leading the club for two years, remains the last manager to secure a Premier League title for the Blues during the 2016-17 season. Conte: One Tottenham thing ‘drove me mad’, Chelsea ‘underdogs’ in 2017 title win. Who left Napoli after two years at the Stadio Maradona last summer, had coached Chelsea from 2016 to 2018 and Tottenham from 2021 to 2023, the Italian tactician. NAPLES, ITALY – MAY 24: Antonio Conte SSC Napoli head coach greets his supporters after the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on May 24, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images). He wasn’t the typical Chelsea player: tall and handsome. When you saw him, was just… well, when I first saw him, I had a few doubts myself about his physicality (laughs), but I was so convinced he was a top player.”, he was the sort of bloke who. LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 27: Antonio Conte, Manager of Chelsea claps the fans after the final whistle during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Burnley at Stamford Bridge on August 27, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images).
Reflecting on that championship-winning campaign, Conte emphasized the unexpected nature of their success. He noted that they entered the season without major marquee signings, relying instead on key acquisitions such as defender David Luiz, full-back Marcos Alonso, and midfielder N’Golo Kante—the latter of whom the club initially questioned his recruitment on ten separate occasions. According to Conte, that specific squad triumphed as true underdogs.
Following his two-year stint at Chelsea, Conte enjoyed success at Inter, capturing the Scudetto in the 2020-21 season before moving to London to replace Nuno Espírito Santo at Tottenham in November 2021. While he did manage to lead Spurs to Champions League qualification, the team never established themselves as genuine title challengers throughout his tenure, which concluded in March 2023. After his two-year spell at Chelsea, Conte coached Inter from 2019 to 2021, won the Scudetto in 2020-21 and then moved to Tottenham, replacing Nuno Espírito Santo in November 2021.
Conte expressed deep frustration regarding the internal perception he encountered at North London. He revealed that hearing individuals consistently refer to Tottenham as a club destined to lose, or as “losers,” was a source of significant irritation. He characterized the club as being subject to mockery, a trend he felt persisted even as he attempted to steer the organization toward a more ambitious trajectory. He recalled specific exchanges with chairman Daniel Levy, where he would express his dissatisfaction after poor results, only to be met with optimism about the upcoming fixture.
Looking toward his own future, the former Juventus colleague of Fabio Paratici indicated an openness to returning to management during the season if the right opportunity presents itself. His reflection serves as a candid look at the differing demands and internal cultures of two prominent English clubs.
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