Proactive or reactive: the tactics of Antonio Conte

Antonio Conte’s Italy have put in some intriguing performances at Euro 2016. Ahead of his Chelsea arrival, we discuss whether he is proactive or reactive.

You are trying to merge onto a highway.

A five or six lane monstrosity that is somehow still inadequate at handling your overpopulated metro area’s traffic situation.

It’s not quite rush hour, but things are beginning to get congested. It’s a time where a slower, more cautious approach from other drivers would be appreciated.

People are not driving slow and cautious.

A glance over your shoulder and out your car’s window reveals that you are attempting to merge onto what appears to be an urban reenactment of the Indianapolis 500.

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‘Focus,’ you tell yourself. You turn down your music, and adjust your sunglasses. This is serious business.

Another quick look over your shoulder and you see what could be construed as an opening. A car in the adjacent lane (the lane you are so desperately seeking to join) is traveling at a reasonable speed, slightly behind you. You flick on your turn signal. This could be your chance.

Are you proactive? Darting into the lane with the cavalier attitude of a person whose turn signal is an act of law to be observed by all in its presence?

Or are you reactive? Waiting momentarily to see if your fellow motorist acknowledges your request to enter his lane by maintaining a marginally slower speed than you?

Belgium coach Marc Wilmots would probably snidely say that current Italy, and future Chelsea, boss Antonio Conte would be a reactive driver in this scenario.

“They did not play real football,” was Wilmot’s assessment of Conte’s tactics after an Italian side, comprised mostly of players even the most fervent Serie A viewer would have trouble recognizing, dispatched of Belgium’s alleged ‘golden generation’ 2-0 last Monday, at the European Championship.

It was an insult directed at the notion that Italy simply sat back and looked to stifle Belgium’s attempts at playing ‘real football.’ The suggestion was that the Italians did not offer any proactive contribution of their own to the match, and were simply just reacting to the efforts of their Belgian counterparts.

Conte’s ability to adapt has served him well thus far in his career

Wilmots kept trying move into Conte’s lane, and Conte reacted by giggling, and speeding up into his blind spot.

Derisive interpretations of defense-first Italian football tactics have existed for as long as Italy-based managers, like Inter Milan legend Helenio Herrera, have hated conceding goals (a long time). To a lesser, but still significant extent, Conte himself has had his reputation saddled with ‘safety-first’ criticisms.

Perhaps in response to those criticisms, or possibly as a preemptive attack on future appraisals of his Italian team’s play, or maybe just because someone asked him to, Conte expounded on his footballing philosophies ahead of the Euro’s:

"I do everything except counter-attacks. I do not play on the counter. I never even train counter-attacks. It is not in my concept of football. – via Football Italia"

Antonio Conte barking instructions to his Italian National team during a match. (Photo – Claudio Villa/Getty Images) /

An artist isn’t always the best judge of his own work. It’s partially why someone like Bob Dylan famously ‘treats’ his fans to 12-minute versions of obscure, late-period deep cuts at his concerts, and then doesn’t play ‘Like A Rolling Stone.’ Dylan sincerely believes he and his band really nailed that recent album of Frank Sinatra tributes.

In Conte’s case (if ever there were a football manager who identified with the plights of an artist, it would be Conte), a broad stroke dismissal of his tactical self-assessment would be harsh.

Italy certainly looked more comfortable performing quick, incisive breaks after winning possession against Belgium than they did awkwardly dictating play against a possession-shy Sweden team in their second game of group play. Though, phrases typically bookmarked for articles written about Sam Allardyce aren’t exactly appropriate for describing the match against Belgium.