Antonio Conte channels Sir Alex Ferguson at Chelsea press conference
By George Perry
Sir Alex Ferguson had no problem bringing the hairdryer out at his press conferences. Antonio Conte did his version of that on Friday, following in Ferguson’s footsteps of always winning the press conference.
Persistence is an important trait for a journalist to have. At times, however, persistence turns into pig-headedness and cluelessness. Some members of the Chelsea press corps fell into this latter category on Friday, and found themselves on the receiving end of a scathing Antonio Conte rebuke.
Conte pointedly pushed back on the ever-present rumours of his sacking and the recent rumours (from The Sun, natch) that Carlo Ancelotti was waiting in the wings. Conte repeatedly told the reporters that these rumours were “bullshit,” but nevertheless, they persisted. Chelsea’s director of communications Steve Atkins stepped in, likely hoping to avoid more profanity. He further buried the sack rumours, and stomped on the rumours that players had contacted Steve Holland behind Conte’s back.
Antonio Conte made it clear that dealing with such inanity and nonsense about himself is part of the job. But he will not tolerate others being dragged into the muck.
"This is a lack of respect because I can accept that the club is ready to sack me, or the story about the players. But to put someone else in this way, it’s incorrect. It’s no good that this person has to send me a message and has to tell me it’s not true. Why put another person in this bullshit? If you want to hit me, hit me. But to put another person is incorrect. I hate this situation. – Chelsea FC"
At one point, showing the frustration mounting over years of dealing with such questions from the press, Conte pointed at the desk and said “These are work for me. This is work.”
Anyone who watches Antonio Conte knows that the man has a bottomless reserve of energy for football. Yet he often looks drawn and worn out behind the microphone. Doubtless his 20 minutes in that room are more exhausting than 3 hours on the training pitch and 12 more hours at Cobham each day.
Sir Alex Ferguson, who once said “f–king” three times in an 18-word response to criticism of Juan Veron, would have been proud. By defending his own integrity as well as protecting his colleagues and his club, Conte lived up to an SAF maxim: always win the press conference.
"For a manager, no matter the result, at a press conference you need to come out as the winner. One of my hobbies now is to watch press conferences. You can kill yourself in a press conference… it’s an important part of your job. – Sir Alex Ferguson, Evening Standard"
Ferguson, in his endlessly competitive way, meant winning everything. A manager must defeat the other manager’s press conference – more confidence, more control, more discipline. He must defeat the press, not letting them own the narrative. And he must treat each press conference as a skirmish in the larger battle for the title, demonstrating that the league belongs to him.
Antonio Conte and Sir Alex Ferguson share the fiery passion for victory, and other important leadership traits as well. Ferguson would be the first to point out that who you are in the press room is who you are on the touchline.
Unlike Jose Mourinho’s passive-aggressive quips and comments, there is nothing “passive” coming from Antonio Conte. Just aggressive. Conte’s loyalty to his players and colleagues continues to draw a stern contrast to Mourinho’s lack thereof. While Mourinho plays for draws against Liverpool and tosses his men under the bus, Conte wants to win the press conference and will defend his ex-assistant in the process.
Next: Nathan Ake has no regrets about leaving Chelsea and why should he?
The press conference may be the worst part of Conte’s week, but that does not mean he will concede it to the hot-takery. Hopefully this stinging defeat will resonate with the press corps. They should leave the winning to Antonio Conte, because they stand no chance against him.