Chelsea boss Antonio Conte says he will not be changing his intense style despite criticism from Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho
Mourinho was angered by Italian boss's celebrations in 4-0 hammering of Red Devils last weekend
ANTONIO CONTE cannot sleep after Chelsea’s losses.
By his own admission the workaholic boss only has a ten per cent chance of a full night’s sleep even if the Blues win!
The passionate Italian lives the game every second of his life and will not change that either tonight at West Ham — or ever.
Ahead of tonight’s EFL Cup fourth-round derby at the London Stadium, Conte said: “I am exhausted at the end of every game. It’s difficult to sleep.
“Even though you’re tired it’s difficult. If we win I probably have only a ten per cent chance of getting to sleep. If we lose I never get to sleep.”
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Conte has also swiftly dismissed the furore over Jose Mourinho’s touchline moan last Sunday after Chelsea humiliated Manchester United. Simply because it was not true.
Mourinho blasted Conte for rousing the Chelsea fans when 4-0 up — calling it was disrespectful to United.
But the Stamford Bridge chief just wanted his supporters to raise the volume as Red Devils fans were out-singing them at the time.
Though the headlines were dominated by Mourinho’s antics, Conte went home focused on picking the bones out of Chelsea’s performance.
His message to Mourinho? Simple.
Conte said: “I must be honest, for me it’s not important.
“After the game I was very focused to look back at the game and at a lot of positive things.
“I always think of the game in every situation because that focus helps if you want to improve your team.
“Even if you win or lose there are a lot of situations you could improve. Me, I always concentrate on the game. The other situation is not so important.”
Conte, 47, prowls around his technical area, shouting instructions and encouragement to his players until the final whistle.
He actually joked he may ask to change the technical area for a bigger one.
And he said he will be happy tonight as he will have more space to move in the vast technical area at West Ham’s new home.
Conte added: “My way of living the game is always the same. I like to the game to be about my players.
“There are other coaches that live the game in a different situation, for example they stay seated.
“For me, that’s impossible because I live the game with great emotion and great passion.
“For this reason I have to get my players to perform in a certain way.
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“And I also hope that it means I can sometimes give the right call or the right movement to suggest they find the right position or find the ball if a team-mate is not seeing this situation.
“I try to help my players during the game. Sometimes they listen but in other situations they probably don’t hear but then I shout even more change — but I live the game in this way.”
When asked if he could change his ways, Conte said: “Ha. Sometimes I’d like to be a coach that stays seated and watches the game nice and relaxed.
“Sometimes I’d like to be this type of manager, to stay calm, to enjoy also the game. But it’s very difficult for me.
“I still want to play, I want to help my players stay close in every moment of a game and also show them that I’m always with them, whether it is a positive or negative situation.
“I will stay there to support them. If we win or lose we are always together.”