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Sat 23 October 2021 | 8:30

Antonio Conte Tactics: The Italian Job

Antonio Conte is one of the biggest coaches in the world, but he has come a long way to get to where he is now. This part will go over Antonio Conte tactics in order to gain a better understanding of this fascinating trip.

Antonio Conte had some tough managerial challenges at senior clubs before he began his professional career at Juventus. Perhaps many are curious regarding

Antonio Conte tactics at Juventus

or even Antonio Conte tactics at Chelsea.

Antonio Conte is widely recognized as one of the top coaches in the world, having led Juventus, Chelsea, and, most recently, Inter Milan to great success. Now that he is a free agent, the 52-year-old, who had an outstanding playing career with Juventus and the Italy national team, is expected to be one of the most sought-after managers.

Conte is known for his abilities to motivate people and manage people. He expects 100 percent from his players and is a strict taskmaster. Conte has a reputation for being a workaholic. He promotes rigorous training methods, driving his players to exhaustion in order to guarantee they are as physically fit as possible.

He has a strong demeanor and will remain on the sidelines throughout games, barking orders at his players. This has gotten him in trouble with the law on a few occasions, and a video of him aggressively kicking a ball away in disgust during Euro 2016 went viral. Conte, though, is more than simply a manager; he is also a world-class tactician.

He prefers his teams to play with action while being accused of being defensive and counter-attacking at times — an accusation he frequently refutes. Conte likes to play in a 3-5-2 formation. This was his method for virtually the entire three seasons as Juventus coach, with a fantastic team built on the firm foundations of Andrea Barzagli,

Leonardo Bonucci

, and Giorgio Chiellini's BBC backline.

Antonio Conte Tactics at Juventus: How Everything Shaped?

Antonio has the character of demanding 100 percent players' capacity, and this is the whole story about Antonio Conte tactics at Juventus. Many believe

Antonio Conte tactics

started here, while there is some truth to that now.

Only Giovanni Trapattoni's and Marcello Lippi's three-year reigns have witnessed more highlights than Conte's. In his debut season with the club, Serie A was undefeated for the first time in a 20-team system. Since then, he has guided the team to its first three-peat since the 1930s and the first 100-point season in Italian history this season.

Conte's ability to figure out what system gets the best out of his players has been crucial to his success. Conte, who was a follower of the unconventional 4-2-4 system when he was recruited in 2011, immediately realized that

Andrea Pirlo

and Arturo Vidal's additions made that structure obsolete. This sums up Antonio Conte's tactics at Juventus: pressing on the opponents until they surrender.

If we take a deeper look at Antonio Conte tactics at Juventus, Conte switched to a 4-3-3 formation, combining Pirlo and Vidal in midfield with Claudio Marchisio. Vidal and Marchisio had breakthrough seasons, and Juventus soon established themselves as one of the finest midfielders in Europe. It wasn't enough, though. The defense of the club had an issue.

The arrival of Stephan Lichtsteiner had finally stabilized the long-vulnerable right-back position, but the left-wing remained a problem. Paolo De Ceglie was unable to establish himself in the role. An experiment to return Giorgio Chiellini to his previous position revealed that this was only a viable option in the direst of circumstances.

He didn't have a viable left-back, but he did have three above-average to outstanding center-backs. As a result, he shifted from 4-3-3 to the now-familiar 3-5-2 formation. He combined

Andrea Barzagli

, Leonardo Bonucci, and Giorgio Chiellini on the pitch at the same time, effectively eliminating the poor left-back position.

All of these tweaks yielded fantastic outcomes. The defense, which had been heavily criticized the year before, only allowed 20 goals the entire year. The club lacked a top-flight striker, but the midfield made up for it. Three players scored in double figures in the league and Coppa Italia. 

All of this led up to an undefeated season and the team's first championship since the Calciopoli disaster.

Antonio Conte tactics

were all about making extreme runs, pressing opponents in the best way possible, fast transitions, and hard work rate.

The company has only paid dividends in the past. Kwadwo Asamoah has carved out a niche for himself on the left. The acquisition of Paul Pogba on a Bosman only strengthened the team's midfield. After two years, the front office finally gave Conte front-line forwards in Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente, who combined for 39 goals in all competitions last season and led the team to their best season ever in Italy.

Conte has benefited from the league's most significant competitive edge, which has helped him. The Juventus Stadium is an actual Calcio palace. It was the first Italian football stadium to be owned by its team. Its design, which football-specific stadiums inspired in England and Germany, creates a superb match-day atmosphere.

Juventus has been able to take benefit of match-day revenue that municipally owned stadiums are unable to access. It has given Juventus greater spending capacity than any other side in Italy, a significant advantage given the country's financial predicament.

The 3-5-2 has shown to be vulnerable against top-level wingers such as

Arjen Robben

. If a winger can get behind the wing-backs, he can run riot and stretch the back three to their limits. Conte's continued deployment of the 3-5-2 in Europe stemmed solely from the fact that it was the best fit for his players. 

His team lacked a left-back, and the wingers were required to create a configuration like the 4-3-3, which could address many of the wing's flaws, a feasible every-game alternative. He tried it against Real Madrid earlier this season and had some success with it. Still, the players he has available to cover those vacant responsibilities don't belong there on a regular basis.

Juventus' European failings were due to team composition more than coaching. In truth, when Conte took over three years ago, no one expected Juventus to be successful. At the time, the only goal was to get back into European competition. It was expected that the team would require at least three years to compete for the Scudetto once more.

Conte, on the other hand, has hastened that plan. He has brought with him a double-edged sword in terms of success. Fans expect more after receiving so many plaudits so quickly, even if the team isn't quite ready. It takes a tremendous coaching feat to move a squad in such dire straits to three straight league titles and the verge of a European breakthrough in such a short time.

Antonio Conte Tactics at Italy: The Return of Dignity

During his time as manager of the Azzurri, the ex-Juventus man established a 5-3-2 method of play, focusing on the three central defenders (Bonucci, Barzagli, and Chiellini). The same "concept" can be seen in his 5-3-2 with Italy, in which the three play a crucial role for the entire squad.

Antonio Conte tactics at Italy

was to go considerably more direct in their assault anytime they had possession between the opponent's midfield and backline. Italy used faster combinations to find the "final" pass vertically or used the wingbacks to overload the penalty box while timing a cross or cutback, and it worked well.

Conte's choice of players had everyone stunned leading up to the competition. Many of the players were unknown, and Italy was without top-flight midfielders like

Marco Verratti

and Marchisio. Another reason Conte wanted to play with three central defenders was that he had three of the top players in the world in that position.

Barzagli, Chiellini, and Bonucci were all top-tier defenders who could play both defensively and offensively. Conte had employed a 3-4-3 and a 4-3-3 formation before this Euro 2016, demonstrating that he is not locked into one formation but has an idea of how he wants to play and utilize the best formation to achieve it, as these high likely be the collection of Antonio Conte Tactics at Italy.

The Journey of Antonio Conte Tactics at Chelsea

The old classic Italian way inspired

Antonio Conte tactics at Chelsea

. Antonio Conte announced his appointment as Chelsea manager on April 4, 2016.

Chelsea began Antonio Conte's debut season in England with a bang, winning their first three games in August. Apart from a facile 3-0 win over Burnley, the performances did not suggest they would go on to smash the Premier League record for most wins in a season. Conte's defeat at the Emirates was his worst league defeat since 2010. While it was a difficult pill to swallow, it was ultimately the key that unleashed Chelsea's potential.

The Italian strategist tried three at the back with the game won, replacing

Cesc Fabregas

with Marcos Alonso. He perceived enough improvement in the second half of the game to start the next match against Hull with a 3-4-3 formation from the start. Antonio Conte tactics at Chelsea were using two major formations: 3-4-3 and 3-5-2, both with the same personnel. 

Personnel changes were required as a result of the move. Victor Moses was brought in to play as a wing-back, a new position for the Nigerian. Along with Gary Cahill and David Luiz, Cesar Azpilicueta was shifted from left-back to right-sided center-back. Conte's favored Juventus back three of Andrea Barzagli, Giorgio Chiellini, and Leonardo Bonucci were replicated in this back three. Chelsea's rut was broken with a 2-0 victory, and Moses was awarded Man of the Match.

In the following two games, against Leicester and Manchester United, the actual effectiveness of the 3-4-3 was demonstrated. Chelsea defeated Manchester United 3-0 before going one better against Jose Mourinho's side. Pedro scored just 30 seconds to give the Blues a 4-0 victory.  Conte's preferred option on the opposite flank to

Eden Hazard

was the decorated Spaniard, who had replaced Willian in the starting line-up against the Foxes.

After being transformed, Chelsea won 13 consecutive league games, a run that lasted until the conclusion of the year. They also won their final six games of the season to hold off Mauricio Pochettino's Spurs, who put up a brave fight for the trophy.

The Blues' success was aided by Moses' willingness to run shuttles up and down the right flank, while Alonso showed to be a dangerous threat in the final third. At the same time, notable players such as Terry, Willian, and Fabregas were relegated to supporting duties, with the latter only reclaiming his starting spot towards the season's conclusion.

Chelsea's 3-4-3 formation was so successful that it encouraged several other clubs to adopt it. Arsenal, in particular, has gone away from a four-man defense for the first time in over a decade under

Arsene Wenger

.

On the other hand, Chelsea saw such dramatic improvements, demonstrating that good management isn't about picking a specific formation but about figuring out the best system to get the most out of the individual squad at hand. The players, of course, are equally deserving of praise. Hazard and Diego Costa had their joint-best Premier League season in terms of goals scored in 2016/17.

Individual honors went to N'Golo Kante, who has cemented his place as a world-class midfielder. After three bids for Roma's Radja Nainggolan were rejected, Chelsea purchased the Frenchman from Leicester. It's unclear whether the club wanted both players as part of a new-look midfield or if Kante would have left Stamford Bridge if he had joined there.

Whatever the situation may be, Conte's strategy worked out beautifully. Conte's formation change and use of players who had not been considered first-team regulars must be deemed a masterstroke. Due to a lack of European obligations, his task was made more accessible, but that does not make the league title a particular conclusion, especially one won with one of the highest point totals in the Premier League's history.

Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho, and

Pep Guardiola

have all used all-encompassing philosophies and proven highly effective methods. On the other hand, Conte's 2016/17 alteration is unsurpassed when it comes to making a significant move from one stated idea to another while the season is still ongoing.

All About Antonio Conte Tactics at Inter Milan

Inter needed to finish in the top four of Serie A to qualify for the Champions League two years ago. In eight years, they have not won a trophy, with Jose Mourinho guiding them to their last league triumph in 2010. One of Italy's footballing behemoths was in desperate need of a makeover. Antonio Conte came in at that point.

Conte guided Inter back to the top of Italian football this season, guiding the Nerazzurri to the title with games to spare, after the first year of steady growth that saw them move to second place behind Juventus, earn their most significant points tally since 2009, and reach the Europa League final. Here's how he went about it.

Conte's teams rarely find themselves in the 'high pressure' category defensively. His Chelsea team was content to sit deep, absorb opponent attacks, and then counterattack. Antonio Conte has had great success with three at the back as a manager, winning four league titles, three Serie A titles with Juventus, and a Premier League title with

Chelsea

.

Inter's back three are always there and consistent, providing them with an excellent defensive foundation. So far, Bastoni has started 24 of the 27 games he has played in; De Vrij has 25 starts, while Skriniar has 22. 

Inter's pressing strategy was to contain rather than harass, and they'd wait patiently in midfield to steal balls with the numbers they got in their 5-3-2 defensive formation. They then aim to counter fast once they have regained possession of the ball. Lukaku posed a significant threat in these situations, combining speed, muscle, and deft movement.

He'll often pull wide to the right, go around the defender, and then drive inside one-on-one, cutting to his left foot to feed a teammate or shoot himself. The 3-5-2's biggest strength is its adaptability. When necessary, teams can quickly adapt to a 5-3-2 or a 4-3-3 formation. Furthermore, the team employing this strategy can frequently outnumber the other team across the football field.

The style typically favors wing-back involvement in attacking plays. Midfielders are freed up as a result of this. One of them is prone to acting as an extra pivot. Frequently, central defenders will be given more creative flexibility. They'll either play as ballplayers in significant areas or out wide to oppose wing-back runs into attacking areas.

As soon as

Antonio Conte

took over as manager of Juventus, he started using 3-5-2 formations. In past positions, he had experimented with various formations. However, he had not profited from Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci, and Andrea Barzagli's defensive alliance. He was a winner, taking home three Scudetto.

He eventually became the manager of the Italian national team, and when he joined Chelsea, he was back to experimenting. When the results were unsatisfactory at first, Conte went back to what he knew. Despite stiff competition, he won the Premier League with the 3-5-2 formation.

But, as previously stated, an Antonio Conte team would not be complete without wing-backs, and with new signing Achraf Hakimi, Conte has perhaps the greatest in the world at the position.

The young Moroccan was outstanding during his two seasons on loan from Real Madrid at Borussia Dortmund, scoring five goals and providing ten assists in his last season with the club. Conte, on the other hand, has a couple of good choices in Ivan Perisic and Ashley Young, both of whom are elderly and may need to be replaced in the future. Danilo D'Ambrosio, on the other hand, has seen less playing time this season, while Cristiano Biraghi has returned to Fiorentina to fill the vacuum left by Marcos Alonso.

After fighting for the right wing-back spot last season, Victor Moses and

Antonio Candreva

have also left the club, as Hakimi has delivered that promise better than anybody else before him. Inter have a history of exploding at inappropriate times. 

They lose their nerve just as everyone expects them to break through and win significant awards. They have frequently failed to win even in important one-off games in the past. That has all changed under Conte, who has instilled a winning attitude in every elite squad he has coached. On and off the field, Conte is a rigorous boss. He holds everyone around him, including his players, to the most significant standards.

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This facet of Conte's coaching demeanor has been complimented by Ashley Young, who joined Inter from

Manchester United

last season. "He's won prizes and has a strong desire to succeed. That's something I'd like to do as well "Last January, Young stated. "You want to go out there and compete for a manager like that." Inter has broken Juventus' monopoly on Italian football. Conte's influence on their performance is apparent when examining their changes in tactics, players, and philosophy over the last two years.

 Important Thing about Antonio Conte Tactics at Inter Milan: Off The Ball Work

let your hair down, this is the story of

Antonio Conte tactics

. Conte has the advantage of inheriting a fully established squad in terms of the lineup. Furthermore, with a few exceptions, this is the same club that made it to the Champions League final last season.

On goal kicks,

Inter Milan

chooses to press as high as possible, with the two strikers aligned perpendicular to the two center-backs, waiting just outside the eighteen yard box. The two attacking midfielders will prevent the opposition from playing in their 'number 6' position, while the wingbacks will pounce if the ball reaches an opposition fullback.

When the ball is passed left or right, the striker is the first to press, followed by supporting moves from both central midfielders and the near-side wing-back, forming a diamond formation, ideal for pressing. When the opposition is in their own defensive third, Inter maintains a high press with the wing-backs and strikers as the major figures. This pressing strategy is especially efficient at forcing long balls, which Inter's back three can readily recover.

During long periods without the ball, Inter's 3-5-2 will become a 5-3-2, and they'll try to stay compact to maintain their defensive structure. Inter, on the other hand, are a pressing team that prefers to start each engagement on a high note with a man-oriented press. They defend center areas and force their opponents out wide, causing their press to be activated. Conte's teams rarely find themselves in the 'high pressure' category defensively.

His Chelsea team was content to sit deep, absorb opponent attacks, and then counterattack. Inter, who have only 51.9 percent possession and are 13th in Serie A in passes allowed per defensive action, a metric that gauges pressing intensity, have a similar focus. 

Inter let their opponents have possession at the back rather than pushing high to rush opponents, force mistakes, or win the ball in their half. They only press high and man-to-man from goal kicks.

Otherwise, they defend in a 5-3-2 midfield block and press midfield passes.

Romelu Lukaku

and Lautaro work well together to block passes down the middle and slow down the opposition, while the midfield rotates as a unit to keep the ball compact while getting closer to it.

A Conclusion on Antonio Conte Tactics

The Italian manager has kept all of his core principles of play from prior management appointments but has tweaked his approach to accommodate the team's personnel. In fact, all the success in the club can sum up in

Antonio Conte tactics at Inter Milan

.

Rather than using the flowing 3-4-3 / 3-4-2-1 structure that he used at Chelsea, the Italian coach has gone with a possession-based 3-5-2, featuring precise moves from the two forwards in particular. However, his dependence on hardworking wing-backs, counter-attacking, and deft moves while playing out from the back have all been consistent over his two seasons at Inter.

With Juventus in a downturn, Inter Milan appear set to win the league in 2020-21, and both the I Nerazzurri and Antonio Conte have a bright future ahead of them.

Inter's team is well-drilled and difficult to beat under Conte. Opponents are often afraid of Conte's attacking threat, but his team is also well-defended at the back, with three defenders on the pitch, and the midfielders frequently dominate games.

Inter Milan are undoubtedly a counter-attacking team, and the wing-backs are crucial in injecting speed during transitions. Whatever Antonio Conte's methods are, one thing is certain: the Italian is still one of the most tactically savvy managers in the world.

Antonio Conte has accomplished a great deal in his career. He tried a lot of different things before settling on a formula that worked for him. He hasn't changed it much since then. He hasn't had to do so yet. His achievement is a result of his perseverance. So there you have it! Inter Milan's

Antonio Conte tactics

are well explained.

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