Tottenham boss Antonio Conte’s name and reputation need no introduction as he is undoubtedly one of the most successful managers in European football with a propensity for bagging domestic trophies, having led Juventus, Inter Milan and Chelsea to Serie A and Premier League titles.
Now, turning his attention to the premier European championships title chase, Conte has revealed his burning ambition to end his wretched Champions League record in Europe.
Somehow, incredibly, Conte has never even had the opportunity to venture beyond the quarter-finals in the Champions League and has been evicted at the Group stage in three of his five campaigns in the competition. The only time he came closest to European success was in the much less prestigious Europa League but even then Inter lost the 2020 final to Sevilla.
Conte has creditably steered Tottenham back into Europe’s premier competition and is now all poised to begin his latest campaign against Ligue 1 side Marseille with a burning ambition to add that elusive silverware to his already trophy-laden showcase.
Conte said: “I think success in Europe with a trophy is important for every manager. You know very well that it’s not simple, not easy because to lift a trophy in Europe, especially in Champions League.
“It’s important also to be the coach, the manager – or you have more probability to win it if you are in a team that’s used to win. It’s normal. Two years ago we lost the Europa League final to Sevilla.
“But for sure in my heart, in my mind, in my ambition, there is the will to have success in Europe. I know very well that its difficult but at the same time, I have this ambition.”
Conte laughed off the suggestion that Italian managers are more obsessed with winning the domestic title than the Champions League.
“No. We have Carlo Ancelotti, no?!” said Conte. “We have this example, he lift a lot of time the Champions League but he lifted the Champions League when he was in Real Madrid, when he was in Milan when Milan were a really, really top team.
“I remember also a final I lost against him when I was in Juventus and he was in Milan. I repeat it depends a lot on the team you are coaching because in this type of competition, the experience, the story means a lot because for this reason.”