Legendary Italian midfielder Andrea Pirlo has hailed Italy boss Antonio Conte as a "beast" and "genius" amid of been on the verge of moving to Chelsea, but also warned owner Roman Abramovich not to interfere with his philosophy.
Conte
is expected to be announced as Chelsea's coach for next season within
the next 10 days, according to multiple reports on Thursday. The
defending Premier League champs are in search of a permanent replacement
for Jose Mourinho, who left the club by mutual consent in December
after a poor start to the league campaign.
Conte
won three consecutive Serie A titles with Juventus before unexpectedly
taking the Italy job in the summer of 2014, and was fundamental in
turning the club's fortunes around in the aftermath of the Calciopoli scandal.
Pirlo, who played for Conte in each of his title-winning seasons with the Bianconeri, heaped praise on his former coach on Friday, with a warning.
"I
love the man, I have nothing but respect and admiration for him. I know
if he takes a job, any job, it will have to be on his terms," Pirlo told the Mirror.
"The
players he wants to sign, those he wants to get rid of, the style he
wants to play. If you sign him as your coach and then as the owner you
want to start making decisions, he is not the coach for you. "If
you let him get on with things and do his methods, then you will have a
team that plays attractive football and will, without doubt, be
successful."
Pirlo lauded Conte's maniacal work ethic and
attention to detail, and added that the Italian's passion for football
is not restricted only to the pitch.
"There is a beast in him,"
Pirlo continued. "I have been in his dressing room at half-time when we
have been winning, but he comes in and will be throwing full bottles of
water around because of a mistake we made or because he feels we should
be further ahead.
"His life is football. I know he is up until 3-4
a.m. in the morning, studying videos, looking at errors, studying the
opposition of the next game. It is a good job Elisabetta is such an
understanding wife, and if he takes the Chelsea job then she will have
plenty of time to enjoy London, because he has two wives -- Elisabetta
and football.
"I even know he will turn on the bedroom lights in
the middle of the night because he has thought of something he needs to
write down -- you will not find a more understanding woman than her."
Pirlo
continued: "I have played under a lot of great managers. But I can say
that Conte is a genius. Like all men who possess genius, he is a little
mad.
"The man can be a beast, a dressing room when he is angry is one of the most dangerous places you can be."
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