Antonio Conte, the manager of Italian champions Napoli, shared his thoughts on “Federico Buffa Talks,” a production featuring Federico Buffa and Sky Sport director Federico Ferri.
During the interview, Conte spoke extensively about his history with Juventus (including his arrival as manager) and current events. For the first time, he explained what truly happened at the end of the season after the Scudetto win with Napoli, his discussion with De Laurentiis, and the decision to stay on the bench of the champions. He also addressed the rumors about Juventus. Below is an excerpt from the lengthy interview:
FEDERICO BUFFA: What I really appreciated this year about how you set up your team is that in recent years you tended to play with three at the back. And then, in my opinion, you saw how Spalletti`s Napoli played – who defended really well, because in Italy you win championships with defence – and you started playing both with four and three, alternating depending on the situation. I hadn`t seen this flexibility before, and in my opinion, this year you`ve made a quality leap in your ability to adapt, rather than being rigid, towards a team.
ANTONIO CONTE: That year I had off after Tottenham, when I didn`t coach and stayed at home, was important, fundamental for me. I dedicated myself to studying a lot, even with my Subbuteo.
FEDERICO BUFFA: With Subbuteo?
ANTONIO CONTE: Of course, there`s always Subbuteo. It`s always at my house. That is, I have the pitch at home, so I review many situations, both offensive and defensive phases, by putting them onto the Subbuteo board. Even at the training ground.
ANTONIO CONTE: I signed a three-year contract with Napoli. What was the goal? What I`ve always said: to build solid foundations, not foundations that would crumble at the first sign of trouble. The first step we set as a goal was returning to Europe, not even the Champions League initially. Then, the fact that we won the championship, in my mind and my vision, my project hasn`t changed at all.
FEDERICO FERRI: So, the championship ends, you win, and in your mind, you don`t know if you`ll stay or if you`ll tell the president your journey is over. You have to talk to him. Can you tell us what really happened with De Laurentiis?
ANTONIO CONTE: What bothered me is that concerning a potential separation between me and Napoli, talk of me going to Juventus started a month or a month and a half before the end of the championship.
FEDERICO FERRI: Did you have an agreement with Juventus?
ANTONIO CONTE: No, absolutely not. I had no agreement with Juventus and I categorically refused.
FEDERICO FERRI: Will this story somehow damage your relationship with the Juventus fans or your past, your history?
ANTONIO CONTE: Only foolish people would fall for these things. That said, for me, Juventus is, was, and always will be Juventus, okay? So no one, as I`ve said, not even with Lecce, can ever affect my feelings towards this club… my history. Where I grew up, understand? It bothers me because often behind me and my person… Behind my public image, many try to capitalize, many are essentially vultures, because I realize my name carries a different weight compared to many others.
FEDERICO FERRI: It happens to all great people, it`s like that.
ANTONIO CONTE: I remember very well this year at the Napoli presentation, we were there in the square and at a certain point the Napoli fans started asking me to jump with them, chanting: “Whoever doesn`t jump is a Juventus fan.” I stopped everyone and said: “Let`s pause for a moment. You cannot ask me to do something I can never do.”
ANTONIO CONTE: As I`ve always stressed, I`ve won a lot, both as a player and a coach, but I`ve also lost a lot. And believe me, the defeats I`ve had were significant defeats. Because losing three Champions League finals, a World Cup final, or a European Championship final in the last minute – and with a Golden Goal – or other UEFA or Coppa Italia finals, or Scudetti lost on the final day, these are deep scars that you carry with you. This is why sometimes I bring out a fierceness that can be frightening, sometimes a bit intimidating, and I try in every way to win, to win and celebrate the victory. This is something I often didn`t do in the past, and I regret it.
FEDERICO FERRI: And you did that now at Napoli.
ANTONIO CONTE: Yes, I enjoyed it at Napoli. I enjoyed it because, I repeat, you do so much to reach the goal and win. Once you reach the goal, you have to enjoy it, otherwise, it doesn`t make sense. There`s no point in doing the journey and making all those sacrifices if you don`t.
FEDERICO FERRI: “Give Everything. Ask for Everything,” Antonio Conte`s book with Mauro Berruto. We can conclude, Federico, by thanking Antonio, because speaking of giving everything, you have given a lot in this interview.
FEDERICO BUFFA: Thank you very much…
ANTONIO CONTE: Thank you, it`s always nice to talk about oneself.
First Meeting with Andrea Agnelli
Antonio Conte then recounted his first meeting with former Juventus president Andrea Agnelli: “I was at dinner with my wife and I saw a call from Dr. Giraudo. I stepped out of the restaurant and on the other end of the phone I heard: `Hi Antonio, how are you?`, it was Andrea Agnelli. `I spoke with the doctor, you know, I`d really like to meet you, we haven`t seen each other in a while.` I told him: look, at the first opportunity I`ll come to Turin and we`ll meet. We were playing against Novara with Siena, and after the Novara match, I returned to Turin and went to Andrea`s house. We greeted each other, and he started asking me how the season went, congratulated me on promotion to Serie A, and then said: `Do you want to buy any players from us?` I replied: Look Andrea, we`re not at that level… We had Montepaschi as a sponsor, but we weren`t at that level.` With that phrase, I understood that I wasn`t in his plans, so we stayed there talking for five hours. In the meantime, his wife came down, we said hello, and he went upstairs. Later I found out that his wife had asked him: `Who is that?` and he had replied `He will be the future coach of Juve.`” After this part, Conte becomes emotional and then continues: “So I walked in not being the coach of Juve, and I walked out with him telling me: `The next step is for me to have you talk to Marotta.`”
The Arrival of Pirlo
“The summer I signed with Juventus, Pirlo`s agent called me, knowing I wanted to play with the 4-2-4 formation I used at Bari and Siena, and asked me what I thought, since he was a free agent, if he could play in my system. I told him: `On paper it might be difficult, but he`s a player who has something so different from others that he must come.` So much so that for the debut match, we started with a 4-2-4 with Pirlo and Marchisio in midfield and Vidal on the bench. Vidal then came on in the second half, scored, and started giving me ideas. Positive ideas, of course. I think a good coach is like a tailor who has to make a custom suit.”
Changing the Mentality
“We raised the level, brought back pride. It wasn`t just winning, it was changing the mentality. When I arrived at Juve, there was a lot to do. And the club gave me confidence. They said: `You do it.` And I did. With tough, but clear methods. I coached every detail. I created pressure. I introduced new habits. We started with a disjointed team. After a few months, we became a solid block. There was no room to give up.”
The Farewell to Juventus
“Juve is a marathon. It wears you down and shapes you. For me, it was everything: passion, work, mission. I gave everything. But when I felt I couldn`t give anymore, I took a step back. I left after three Scudetti. Some people didn`t understand. But I did: either we grew further, or we would stop. And I never wanted to stop. Never.”
