By Daily Sports on February 25, 2017
Antonio Conte has revealed the pain of losing a title on the last day of the season motivates his desire for Premier League leaders Chelsea to continue to push hard for points.
Chelsea’s eight-point lead from Manchester City has led to many onlookers proclaiming Conte’s men the champions-elect, with Saturday's home game against Swansea City offering an opportunity to stretch their advantage further.
But despite Chelsea winning 19 of their 25 league games this season, Conte knows the title will not be secured until glory is mathematically confirmed after mixed experiences earlier in his career, when he played for Juventus.
“In my experience as a footballer I have had two experiences [of a collapse],” Conte told reporters. “One good experience, another bad experience against Lazio.
“Lazio in the last six or seven games they recovered seven points, eight points and we lost the title in the last game against Perugia. I was captain of the team. I remember after this game I must go to the European Championship with the national team.
“I didn’t sleep for six days because it was a shock for me to lose the title. In another situation I won the title to recover against Inter from eight points behind. We won the last game against Udinese and Inter lost the game against Lazio.”
With 13 league games to play and no European distractions for Chelsea, Conte is targeting the 10 wins and two draws that would ensure his side cannot be caught by any of the chasing pack.
“There is a long time before we can say we have won the title,” Conte said. “We must be focused, we must go step by step. Now I'm sure to win the title we must get 32 points.
“There is a long time left. 13 games is an enormous space of time. I am sure if we take 32 points we win the title.
Otherwise anything can happen.”
Conte reflected on the sacking of compatriot Claudio Ranieri by Leicester City, the club dismissing the Italian despite last season’s incredible Premier League title triumph.
“In Italy we are used to being sacked and we live with this situation,” he said. “It is not easy, but to know this you are stronger because you try with all your strength to put in 120 per cent. Because you know your life could be very short.
“Now I see in England these situations are increasing, and also in the Championship I see a lot of managers are sacked. This is our job, and the risk of our job. We know this and we must work very hard to have good results, to try to keep our job. For sure, our job is a job with great risk.”
•Sourced from mtnfootball.com. Photo shows Chelsea Manager Antonio Conte.
Source Daily Sports
Posted February 25, 2017
You may also like...
Amokachi’s Call/View for Reintroduction of Developmental Programme Also...
Decision-makers convereg for SportAccord Summit in Bangkok
Neymar injures right ankle during Brazil’s World Cup...
Chelsea Willing To Sell Ziyech This Summer
CAF Approves Moshood Abiola Stadium Abuja For Super...
Wilder, Fury Vow To Settle Rematch With A...

Man City need to 'step up' as striker's goal run ends
'People are afraid' - why 'juggernaut' Arsenal are team to beat
Aspinall requires further tests on eye injury in UK
Real Madrid impress but Vinicius tension grows - Clasico talking points
Rooney says struggling Liverpool lack leadership
NOC To Host FinalIOC Advanced Sport Management Course Module
4 Teams Lock Horns For N10m Tiger 5-Aside Football Battle In Awka
Nezianya, Odikpo, Balepo, Ndukuba, Chukwuleta For SWAN @60 Veterans’ Awards
Anambra FA Crisis: Igbokwe, 61 Years Old Football Administrator Protests Arrest, Detention
Gala European record thrills Osimhen
La Liga: 'I am enjoying football at Barca', Rashford eyes permanent move
CAF nomination thrills Flying Eagles captain
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,273 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,475 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,427 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,035 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,015 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (51,987 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (51,818 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,397 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,511 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,052 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,491 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (46,953 views)