Cesar Azpilicueta has had his say on the demanding nature of Tottenham Hotspur boss, Antonio Conte, who famously managed Chelsea almost a decade ago now.
The former Inter Milan manager was once seen throwing his hands up at Sergio Reguilon against Leeds United in 2021, as he constantly strives for perfection and demands the same from his players.
It seems like Antonio Conte has not changed, as he was very similar when it came to his demands at Chelsea, according to club captain Cesar Azpilicueta.
Cesar Azpilicueta on former Chelsea & now Tottenham boss Conte
Jamie O’Hara sums up how Spurs fans feel about the £288,000-a-week tactician, as they love him but loathe his methods simultaneously.
While the same could well be the case with the players who have worked under Antonio Conte, whether it be at Tottenham or Chelsea, Cesar Azpilicueta was seemingly a fan of his demanding nature.
“He was intense, no?”
“Antonio [Conte] was someone who was very demanding in every training session. I remember his first pre-season [at Chelsea], it was all about sacrifice. But you could soon feel on the pitch that you were stronger”, Azpilicueta said about the Tottenham manager in an interview with the Athletic.
The Spanish right-back continued, “Was it the fittest I’ve ever felt? Yes, although that was also because I was playing every minute and felt that confidence in me from the beginning with him. It’s important for you to feel that in your mind. You push even more.”
This is not the first instance in which Antonio Conte has been known to push his players to the brink in training, as recalled by Cesar Azpilicueta, as the Times had reported that Harry Kane had thrown up and Son Heung-min collapsed during pre-season, which tells you all you need to know about how intense he really is.
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