Fitness is the key to success in football, or at least that’s what Antonio Conte likes to think, as he warns Chelsea players to expect a heavy workload during this pre-season.
Conte was announced as the new Chelsea manager already before Euro 2016, but his work at Stamford Bridge was only due to start this week, as he was braced to finish the European championships with the Azzurri first.
Italy got knocked out at the last eight stage, and the former Juventus boss has now turned his attention for Chelsea after stepping down from his role as Italy’s head coach.
The Italian is notorious for his hard-working teams, and he’s dedicated to make Chelsea one of them as well, as he looks to climb for glory right on his first season in England.
According to The Times, he said: “Be prepared to slog, this will be the hardest summer of your life.”
Spain international Pedro, who was signed from Barcelona last summer, is one of the players that will be returning to Chelsea from post-Euro 2016 holiday very soon, and he’s looking forward to work under Conte and make next season better than his debut campaign for the Blues.
I’m very happy with how my first year went at Chelsea, especially for adaptation but not so much for the results.
It was difficult for me and a situation I had never experienced in my career but we all learn and I think what happened will make me stronger.
As you say, the following season could be crucial for me and I hope to be even more integrated into the team and the Premier League, hopefully we can be in the top positions.
In this second year, I hope to improve and contribute more to the club that signed me. All teams are being reinforced very well and the league is becoming more competitive. It always has been, but look at what happened this season with the triumph of Leicester, whom nobody considered at the start of the season – that shows how anyone can win.
We have a new coach in Antonio Conte, and I think he can help a lot and restore Chelsea to the place it belongs. I’ll do everything in my power to make it so.
