Conte: Terry Will Always Be Captain

About the only topic he skirted around was the topic of transfers. It’s fantastic to work there.

“He is a young player but very strong with good technique”, said Conte. “I spoke with him different times and for me it was the most important thing that John – he was very happy”. Seven teams can win the title, but the pressure for me is not important.

“The best important message is that I’m a worker”.

He was also eager to emphasise the importance of physical fitness and determination and said he was happy with what he saw in training at Cobham this week. These more flashy, more fiery players basked in the limelight with their performances when times were good in 2014/15.

Willian, Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois and Diego Costa have been persuaded to stay at Chelsea despite interest from other clubs and the absence of Champions League football next season. “It’s not important. What’s important is the right spirit of the team and good organization”. A tailor who must build a dress, the best dress for the team.

“Players want to listen though”.

Mourinho admitted that “clearly some bodies didn’t react as well as we expected” as he shortened pre-season to three games, while Costa confessed he was “overweight” amid a squad nearly entirely underwhelming for the majority of the campaign. I wanted to go back to breathe the grass … day by day.

Guus Hiddink provided some stability following Mourinho’s sacking last December, the full reasons for which may never be known, but results did not improve enough under the caretaker boss for a sustained challenge for European places.

But nearly as important was Conte’s addendum that Terry will also be captain “when he doesn’t play”.

“When a player deserves to play, with me he plays”.

“All the players know that I’ll see the pitch during the training session to decide my starting XI”.

Terry changed his mind about staying with Chelsea six weeks after the club announced that Conte would be taking over.

Will Terry still be captain?

‘The pressure for me is not important.

“I know, that there is only one team who wins the title”.

“We all know that”. Those players are in other teams.

Chelsea failed spectacularly in their attempts to defend their 2014/15 Premier League title, finishing 10th in the English top flight and thus not qualifying for either the UEFA Champions League or UEFA Europa League.

“I felt very emotional coming to Chelsea”.

Some of the squad, including those who had been out on loan in 2015/16, headed back to the training ground last week to get a head-start on building their fitness. I want to transfer my idea to the players, my methods.