Antonio Conte admits he \u2018missed football in general\u2019 before Napoli, has not changed his \u2018work\u2019 ethic since Chelsea and does not get along with \u2018egotistical\u2019 players.<\/p>\n
The coach took time out after his experience with Tottenham Hotspur ended abruptly in March 2023 and returned to the game at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona this summer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI missed football in general, but every now and then we need to take a break, especially those of us who live the sport so intensely and with such passion,\u201d said Conte on the Lega Serie A YouTube channel.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have a lot of energy now and am very fired up, I missed football in general. I saw Napoli as an important opportunity for me to experience a marvellous city that lives football, goes to bed with football in mind and wakes up with football in mind.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is certainly a very difficult challenge, that is without doubt, but I feel that I am mature enough to face this, because it takes strength, hunger and enthusiasm. Napoli is a very demanding club.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the past, Conte was able to bring success to sides who hadn\u2019t experienced it in a while, from Juventus to Inter. Can he do the same for Napoli?<\/p>\n
\u201cI sincerely hope so, my history says as much, I generally arrived in situations where the car was not ready to start on the front row of the grid. I had to climb up from the fourth or fifth row to upset the odds.\u201d<\/p>\n
What really has not changed for Conte is his approach to the sport and players, which he admits surprised some at Chelsea.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe crucial thing is a focus on \u2018us\u2019, we need to get rid of \u2018I\u2019 and egotism. You get nowhere with individuals, the team lets you win or lose. Obviously, a team with talented players has to get the best out of them, but the good of the team always comes first.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to eliminate the type of player that works with the I, because I do not get along with them,\u201d continued the coach.<\/p>\n
\u201cHard work is a motto I brought with me forever. I remember the English journalists at my first press conference with Chelsea counted the number of times I said \u2018work\u2019 and they were surprised. I have not changed, we must work and the only way I know to achieve success is through hard work.\u201d<\/p>\n