Conte revels in return to past glories

Juventus coach Antonio Conte is enjoying a return to the ‘old days’ after his side’s controversial clash with AC Milan last weekend.

While Conte is keen to move on from the storm which surrounded the match, he admits that the furore made him feel that the Bianconeri are finally back where they belong – battling it out with their great rivals at the summit of Serie A.

After successive seventh-placed finishes, few expected the Old Lady to challenge for the title this season but they currently find themselves second in the standings, just a point behind the Rossoneri with a game in hand.

So, while Conte did not exactly enjoy the ugly fallout from their incident-packed 1-1 draw at San Siro, it did make him feel nostalgic.

“For me it was like going back to the days when I was a player, fighting to win when it was certainly not all sunshine and roses,” the former Italy international said ahead of this weekend’s clash with Chievo.

“I felt a bit of nostalgia for the good times. It seems they are back. After many years we are competitive again and we had the pleasure to play in a Scudetto clash.”

“Now we are trying to reduce the tension a little, but if everything was flat there would be no headlines, sports broadcasts or newspapers to sell.”

“Football is show business and we must be aware of this, accepting our duties (to the game).”

“That said, the ultimate expression of this sport is on the field and that’s where we must try to prove ourselves stronger.”

Looking ahead to Saturday’s clash with Chievo at Juventus Stadium, Conte admitted that his preparations for the game have been hindered by the international break.

“We have only had today to get ready for the game because so many have only just returned recently from their various national sides and I had to give them a day of recovery,” he said.

“It’s nice to give so many players to the national teams because it means that the work of the club is appreciated, but now we only have one training session to prepare for a major challenge.”

Conte, who spent 13 years with Juve as a player, returned to Turin as a coach last summer.