Paulo Ferreira, a former player and a cult hero at Chelsea, has opened up about Antonio Conte and his so far successful maiden season for the West London side.
Following an abysmal campaign with Jose Mourinho last season the Blues finished their campaign 10th.
A new manager was needed at the club and so, around a year ago, then Italy’s national side’s boss Conte was appointed as the becoming manager of Chelsea Football Club.
He now has a chance to win two titles on his debut season in England; Chelsea are in a seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League table and face Tottenham in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
Ferreira, who’s currently working at Chelsea’s loan department, believes that Conte can build a team that can last, as he compares the Italian to Mourinho.
“It’s massive for a manager to come to the best League in the world and, like Mourinho did, win the title in his first season.
There are still many points to play for but I hope it will happen under Antonio. Can he build something similar to what Jose did and sustain it? This is a big club that plays to win trophies. Everyone involved wants to go the same direction, to succeed.”
Chelsea will face Mourinho’s current side Manchester United on Sunday evening at Old Trafford, and will be looking to win their third game over the Red Devils this season.
“This is a game between two managers who both want to win. But you can see the reaction on the bench that Antonio is quite different [to Jose].
But you can see the reaction on the bench that Antonio is quite different [to Jose].
Conte is more involved. If he could jump on the pitch and play, he would. He’s so passionate. He can’t just sit still on the bench.
Everyone is happy at the training ground, the players say he’s fantastic and he motivates them.”
– Paulo Ferreira, Evening Standard
