Giaccherini: “Conte is a sergeant who demands a lot, but then he wins you over and you enjoy it”
Emanuele Giaccherini, you were a pupil of Conte and helped him win the first two Scudetti with Juve. What is the secret of this “serial winner” coach? «The mentality. He doesn’t accept defeat and lives it badly: this is how he manages to transmit the best, taking care of every little detail. He did an extraordinary job in Naples: he took the team 40 points behind Inter and is leading them to win. It’s a miracle, like that of my Juve».
How does he always manage to make a difference? "Work is his strong point. He pushes all the players to the limit, bringing out the best. At the beginning it is difficult to accept this load of stress, but then he wins you over with empathy, results and work."
But is it true that he was constantly changing his training schedule? "He would tell us even at midnight that he was changing the schedule in the morning. A bit to keep everyone on track, but that's his strength."
What memories do you have of your first Scudetto in 2012? "We made life difficult for ourselves at home against Lecce, with a draw due to Buffon's mistake. The coach accepted the mistake: we were ahead and our destiny was in our hands. We worked really hard, taking care of all the details, and then we became champions in Trieste against Cagliari: a beautiful and unforgettable night because Juve had returned to winning after everything that had happened."
How have you seen him in these weeks? "Mentally he is arriving tired. But that's normal: he can handle the pressure, then he lets it go during the game (smiles, ed.). In any case he hasn't changed much: he is always the same. Only on a tactical level has he changed: now he is much more flexible with the modules".
You also played in Naples: are there different pressures than in Turin and Milan? "I don't think so, the pressures are always the same. He also knows that entering the history of Naples would be something unique and special."
And even in the history of Serie A, no coach has ever won a championship with three different teams... «His path is truly of the highest level. Wherever he goes, he wins: regardless of everything. He manages to make an impact on any team: he is a sergeant who requires a lot of work and sacrifice, but when the results arrive, everyone is happy and enjoys it».
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