Antonio Conte speaks about his past experiences in title races and the minimum points he is now aiming for…

From Chelsea Fc

Antonio Conte’s side go into today’s match against Swansea with an eight-point advantage at the top of the table but with 13 games still to play for the Blues boss has warned his side not to lose their focus. He recalls his own past of both losing a lead, and overhauling one, to emphasise the point that in football anything can happen.

‘In my experience as a footballer I have had two experiences, one good and another bad,’ said Conte. ‘Lazio, in the last six or seven games, recovered seven or eight points on us and we lost the title in the last game against Perugia. I was captain and remember it very well. After this game I had to go to the Euros with the national team and I didn't sleep for six days because it was a shock for me to lose the title.

‘In another situation I won the title after recovering eight points. We won our last game against Udinese and Inter lost against Lazio.

‘I continue to repeat there are 13 games and 39 points (still to play for). There is a long time to tell if we can win the title and we must be focused and go step by step. I am sure to win the title we must get 32 points.’

During his time in management, Conte has also experienced both sides of the coin with regards to being involved in European competition, and the Italian says it does make a difference to how you work on the training pitch.

With the Blues not playing either Champions League or Europa League football this season, Conte has been afforded more time to prepare his team for matches.

However, having had experience with Juventus in Europe, he is well aware of the different challenges we will face next season should we qualify for European competition.

‘I’ve had both experiences because in my first season with Juventus we didn't play in Europe and then two years later we played,’ he said.

‘For sure you have to change something in the work but it is important always to find the right balance and understand when is the right time to push and work hard, and when is the time to rest. You have to face these two situations in different ways.’

Earlier this week Conte and members of his backroom team spent an afternoon observing England rugby coach Eddie Jones put his squad through their paces ahead of tomorrow’s Six Nations fixture against Italy, and he explained why it was such a beneficial visit.

‘It is very important to have this conversation to compare the methods of work, the physical work, the mental work and see the way they prepare for a game through individual analysis,’ Conte said. ‘It was very interesting. I like to have this type of meeting with the coach of other sports. It is useful.

‘We spoke about different aspects, and this is important when you have to manage 20 players, or in his case 30, 35 players, which is not easy because you have to face everybody.

‘When you are a coach of a good level, in his case we are talking about a great coach as he has these characteristics and knowledge, you have to use this in the right way.’