Antonio Conte’s touchline celebrations are the second-best part of Chelsea scoring a goal. The manager cannot imagine doing his job without his trademark level of passion.
Antonio Conte is that rare manager who shows as much passion and uncontrolled fervor for the club as lifelong fans. Just as he led by example as a player at Juventus, he show the Stamford Bridge and traveling Blues faithful the minimum level of excitement for Chelsea goals.
Conte out-did himself in the win against Arsenal. He shadow-headed both Diego Costa’s shot off the crossbar and Marcos Alonso’s rebound that gave Chelsea their opener. Later in the game he dove head first into the crowd to celebrate Eden Hazard’s 60-yard solo run and goal.
Conte explained that the celebrations are part of who he is as a footballer. He celebrated like that as a player. He did the same at Juventus and Italy. Chelsea knew what they were getting when they hired him, he seemed to say.
"I live the game with great passion and enthusiasm. Sometimes for me it’s very hard to keep this passion under control. Sometimes I want to share my passion with fans, with my staff, with players. – Daily Mail"
Conte noted that he does not like to see clips of his celebrations and other actions on the touchline, saying that they leave him a “bit ashamed.” But he also said that he is setting an example not just for his players, but for his daughter.
"I think it’s important for my daughter to see my will to win. I try always to transfer the right education to my daughter."
One can only imagine how she reacts to getting an A on her term papers and exams in school.
Few managers at any team, league or sport come close to matching Antonio Conte’s passion. He draws a stark contrast to more sour-puss managers Chelsea have had. Conte packs as much enthusiasm and emotion into a mid-game goal in a mid-season game as Jose Mourinho would for his biannual gallop down the touchline.
Mourinho’s celebrations at Liverpool were the exception that proved the rule. Conte’s rule sets a standard few managers could ever meet.
If Antonio Conte ever starts to act like his predecessors, though, Chelsea should start searching for his replacement. “The moment you see me staying seated, you must be worried. Above all my club must be worried, because I think I finished my passion.”
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