Antonio Conte is adopting similar man management strategies this season to those used by Jose Mourinho during Inter’s historic treble season, a report in Italy suggested today.
Tuesday’s print edition of Corriere dello Sport praised the Nerazzurri’s head coach for correcting a shaky start to the season and leading them on an eight-match winning streak in Serie A, which has brought them to within one point of league leaders AC Milan.
The report argues Conte’s biggest achievement has been to reinvigorate a physically and mentally fatigued side that barely had any time off in the summer after reaching the Europa League Final on 21 August.
The most notable decision taken by Conte has been to allow Inter’s players to spend the night at home when they are playing matches at 20:45 the following evening, just as Mourinho did during his time in charge in Milan.
“They needed a few more hours of relaxation with their families more than an extra fitness session,” CdS reported.
Conte was also praised for the ‘call to arms’ he made to his players in training after returning from the winter break last week, telling them that nobody would be signed in January and nobody would be leaving.
“He has tried to ensure that everyone at Inter is in the same boat, just like Mourinho made it seem like it was him and his players against the world,” the article suggested.
Conte has also made some tactical changes which have helped Inter rediscover their best form in Serie A.
He has abandoned the 3-4-1-2 system he tried at the start of the season and reverted to the more familiar 3-5-2 system, and just like Mourinho he has kept picking the same group of core players in an attempt to create a united group.”
