antonio conte happy
What did you make of the performances of your new players today?
We are trying to exploit these friendly games to give the opportunity to the new players to come in and play in our idea of football. For sure, about Clement Lenglet it was the first week to work with us. Also Yves Bissouma, he was with the Covid in Korea, but it’s ok. I’m happy because the game wasn’t a friendly game, it was a real game. You know very well that the last game they played against West Ham they won 3-1 and you know the fitness of Rangers is higher, in front of us, but despite this I think that we played with a good intensity, a good pressure and a good quality. If I have to find a situation that today was to improve it was because we created a lot of chances, especially in the first half and we didn’t score, but I understand we are still improving and are also a bit tired because the pre-season is also important for us to make the fitness at the high level. But I’m happy because I repeat the tactical aspect I’m very pleased. For sure we can improve because we conceded a goal that we can avoid, but I’m delighted with the attitude and the will and desire that the players are showing me in this pre-season. I’m very happy.
You’ve played at Ibrox and you had to mark Gazza, what was that like?
Yeah (laughs). I remember that game well because we won against Rangers and I was marking Paul Gascoigne. I was running a lot compared to him and I remember that I finished the game before the end because he endured me. We are talking about the past and for sure I have had this pleasure to play in this amazing stadium and also against Gascoigne. We are talking about an icon in England, an iconic player.
Bayern Munich’s head coach has been talking about his admiration for Harry Kane this week, are you unhappy about that and the links to your striker?
Honestly I didn’t hear this. For sure I’m a coach who doesn’t talk about players from other teams. I don’t know why [this happened]. The situation at Tottenham is very clear. The plan is very clear with the club. Harry is a part of the project. He is a very important part of the project and yeah only rumours. At the same time I repeat I don’t like to speak about players from another club. If I want to do something I go to speak to the club, not through the media. I think maybe it’s a bit disrespectful for the other club. This is my way. This is my way to face the situation with other players.
What do you believe your team can do this season?
In comparing last season I think numerically we improved the squad and I think that we worked with the club to improve the quality as well as that numerical aspect. When you have to play four competitions, like Premier League, Carabao Cup and FA Cup and especially Champions League, you need to have an important squad and honestly last season I think that we reached a big achievement with 12, 13 players. I think we tried to do our best, for sure and this is the start. You can build in one year a great building but I think last season we put in a good foundation and now, this summer, we tried to build the first and second floor but we know that we need a bit of time. At the same time we have ambition and the players are working very hard because they believe in what we are doing. They feel that we are building something important with the club.
What did you think about Rangers?
Rangers is a really good team. Two seasons ago they won the league and last season they reached the final of the Europa League. When you reach the final in this competition it means you have a really good team and a really good coach. They are working very well and I also saw the game against West Ham and West Ham are a really good team in England. They won 3-1. For us it was a really good test because I think in this moment they are more ready to start the league. We have two weeks to try to find the peak fitness to start the Premier League. Today I’m happy because there are friendly games and friendly games. In friendly games you improve when you face an important team and in the difficulty you understand which is your position and the work you are doing. Today was a game like this.
We saw Richarlison play with Son and Kane at the end, is that something we can expect to see more of and would you like to add more new players before the start of the season?
Richy for sure is a player that we signed to improve the quality of the squad. Also the possibility to make rotations with players that don’t drop the level. If you want to be competitive and become a strong team, the squad has to be with at least 16, 17, 18 players that has to keep the same level, not the level up and then the other level medium, otherwise you are not competitive. I think with the club we have started, but we have just started to do this improvement, to try to have the possibility during the game, with the five substitutions, and in between one game and another game with the Champions League to make rotations. The situation I think it’s too vital for me and especially if we want to have ambition. Then one game we’re going to play one player and another game another player, but they need to be able to play 90 minutes, 70 minutes, 30 minutes, the most important thing is that when they go on the pitch they are effective. The impact has to be terrific for the opponent, not for us. I think that we worked in this aspect with the club but you know that we have just started this process, to bring and to improve step by step the squad.
