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Conte plays down tactical overhaul
New Chelsea manager Antonio Conte says team spirit is more important than tactics in the Premier League.
Chelsea appointed Conte as their long-term successor to Jose Mourinho in April, with the 46-year-old finally taking over from caretaker boss Guus Hiddink after his Italy contract ended when the Azzurri were knocked out of Euro 2016 by Germany on penalties at the quarter-final stage.
The former Juventus boss preferred to play a 3-5-2 formation at club and international level with Juve and Italy, but says he is comfortable with the 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 most teams prefer in the Premier League..
"Three at the back, four at the back - it’s not important," he said.
"What is important is the right spirit in the team and to give good organisation and good training on tactical and physical aspects. I think I can improve my players a lot."
Conte says he learned a lot from the coaches he played under at club and international level with Juventus and Italy.
The Lecce-born midfielder represented his home-town team for five years after making his debut as a 16-year-old in 1986, before joining Juve in 1991, where he won five Serie A titles, the Champions League and the Uefa Cup in his 13 years in Turin.
"I had fantastic managers in my career," he told Chelsea TV. [Marcello ] Lippi, [Arrigo] Sacchi, [Carlo] Ancelotti, [Giovanni] Trapatoni.
"Every one of them gave me something. It's very important. The tactical ideas are mine. I developed these in offensive situations."
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