Conte committed to Italy role - 7M sport

Conte committed to Italy role



Posted Wednesday, December 17, 2014 by Foxsports.com

Conte committed to Italy role

Italy coach Antonio Conte has brushed aside media reports that he will resign from his post after just five months.

The former Juventus tactician has steered Italy to five wins and a draw since replacing Cesare Prandelli this summer, yet last month voiced his frustration over a lack of support from clubs for the national team.

Despite speculation that the former Juve and Italy international was considering stepping down, Conte told the Italian media on Tuesday: "I took on a job with people that enthusiastically wanted me and with the Italy fans.

"This job gives me such a responsibility that although the speculation is part of football, I rule out that eventuality (resigning)."

Conte held a meeting on Tuesday in Milan with all but five Serie A head coaches to gain more understanding from clubs over the demands for national team success.

The former Juve boss was pleased with the outcome, with Conte being given the green light to hold a three-day gathering for the national team from February 9 until February 11, 2015.

"I hope this meeting will be institutionalised and that we have it at least once a year," Conte said. "I know what coaches think just as I know what players think, having been a player myself.

"This meeting allows me to create a continuous rapport with coaches and players and, as a consequence, to get some feedback from the clubs.

"Those coaches that were absent (Roma's Rudi Garcia, Inter Milan's Roberto Mancini, Napoli's Rafa Benitez, Cagliari's Zdenek Zeman and Empoli's Fabrizio Sarri) had already notified they would not be available to attend the meeting.

"There has been an agreement for the national team to have a three-day get-together in February, although the clubs will have the final decision."

Conte admitted he is concerned over the lack of playing time of some of the Azzurri players.

"This is a time where, excluding goalkeepers, only eight or 10 of the 23 national team players are starters in their respective squads," the 45-year-old said. "For this reason, I ask the clubs to pay extra attention, in order to give those a few more minutes of training after a game.

"I know that this can be annoying to the players, but you need to show a bit of love to be in the Azzurri circle.

"No one has made promises to me and I didn't need to hear them either. I just needed to talk to the coaches with honesty and transparency."

Conte led Juve to three consecutive Serie A titles before replacing Prandelli in August after Italy's first-round exit from the World Cup in Brazil.

The Azzurri are unbeaten and have won three of their four Euro 2016 qualifiers to move level on 10 points with Croatia, who lead Group H on goal difference.

Italy's next game is a European qualifier at Bulgaria on March 28 before hosting England in an international friendly three days later.



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