Juventus boss Antonio Conte is already looking to the future after securing the club’s second straight Serie A title.
In a intriguing interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, the boss revealed several interesting thoughts.
“My wife has told me to at least enjoy this Scudetto for a couple of days, but I can’t,” he admitted.
“I’m also a character who doesn’t really show his feelings, but that is not to say that I’m not experiencing them.
“Both Scudetti were beautiful and complicated,” he continued.
“The first was unexpected, we were not favourites and perhaps not even considered. We beat a battleship like Milan and to remain unbeaten all season was a masterpiece.
“To confirm yourselves as champions is never easy, as the others are waiting for you and we also had the Champions League to navigate.”
Now that his Juventus side has proved their current worth in Serie A, he is turning his thoughts towards the Champions League.
“It makes me laugh when I hear certain things, like when people say that Juventus need just two players to win the Champions League. That’s a superficial and presumptuous argument.
“The reality is different – the top is some distance away as the UEFA rankings demonstrate. It’s not just an economical issue either. Certainly money helps, but that is not enough.
“Bayern Munich is a model to follow. A serious project which started years ago with Van Gaal, that has included burning losses that enhanced the ferocity of their players.
“At the base of all success is organisation of play, a club who are prepared to go down a precise path with targeted investments and an eye on the youth system. That’s the only way you can change.”
Conte is now set to have a serious discussion with club officials to see if they are on the same page as their championship coach.
“Will I stay? The players and the club deserve respect. I’ll speak about these things with the President and with director general Marotta.
“Who do I want between Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Luis Suarez and Gonzalo Higuain? You can’t say no to those three. I’ll take all of them, but that won’t be enough to win the Champions League,” he smiled.
It will be great to see how the story unfolds during the transfer season and if Juventus can create a team to truely capture the Champions League title.
You can follow Tim Grove on Twitter: @Tim_Grove
