It was confirmed on Tuesday, that Antonio Conte is to step down as Italy's manager after Euro 2016. The 46-year-old looks set to become Chelsea's manager after the tournament in France.
Conte took charge of Italy after they failed to advance from the group stages at the 2014 World Cup. He led the side to Euro 2016 qualification by remaining unbeaten in qualification with seven wins from three games.
Off the Ball spoke to journalist James Horncastle on Tuesday night's show about Conte and how he will fit in at Chelsea, if as expected, he manages the club next season. The former Juventus boss has never managed outside of his native Italy.
#Conte will step down from the #Italy national team job after #EURO 2016:https://t.co/niPp2SzWJU #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/4iF8YN2XwZ
— Italy (@azzurri) March 15, 2016
"Learn English is what you do in your spare time when you're an international coach", Horncastle explained about Conte. The Italian manager has reported struggled with the lifestyle on an international manager when not involved in the day-to-day running of a club.
"He picks battles with the media and his own fans sometimes. He is someone who will put an interview from an opposition player on the dressing-room wall. He's got the relentlessness that I think is exactly what Chelsea require in a league that will have Pep Guardiola in it next season and perhaps Jose Mourinho."
Conte will "set up his team depending on the players that he has got" according to Horncastle, who spoke about how the formations changed under Conte at Bari and Juventus.
If as expected, Conte is named as Chelsea manager, he will become the fifth Italian to manage the club after Gianluca Vialli, Claudio Ranieri, Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto di Matteo.
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