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Antonio Conte speaks out on his future and wants to join a club that has ‘recently won’ Football

Antonio Conte speaks out on his future and wants to join a club that has ‘recently won’

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Antonio Conte was sacked by Spurs last season (Picture: Getty)

Antonio Conte has no intention of returning to management with a team without a recent track record of winning.

The 54-year-old was sacked by Tottenham earlier this year following the spectacular disintegration of his relationship with the club’s board, fans and even his own players.

Conte became an instant hit at Spurs after he unlikely masterminded Champions League qualification during his first season but after failing to secure a number of key transfer targets he was unable to build on that early success.

With Napoli head coach Rudi Garcia apparently on the verge of losing his job, Conte has been linked with a move to the reigning Serie A champions but distanced himself from that potential vacancy earlier this week.

Speaking at festival organised by La Gazzetta dello Sport on Friday night, meanwhile, Conte insisted he had no intention of taking on a rebuilding project as and when he joins his next club.

Antonio Conte has been linked with a move to Napoli (Picture: Getty)

‘When I come back, it will be very hard for everyone else… I will be ready to give battle,’ he said.

‘After Tottenham, I promised to dedicate time to family, it’s a lifestyle choice — one day, I’d like to coach a team that has recently won.’

Napoli’s hopes of retaining the Scudetto have been hit following a mediocre start to the new season which sees them in fifth place, already seven points behind leaders AC Milan.

Despite a poor run of form, ex-Napoli skipper Kalidou Koulibaly believes the under-fire Garcia deserves more time to turn things around.

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‘Garcia is a great coach and he needs time to adapt, just like other coaches did in the past,’ Koulibaly said in an Instagram live interview.

‘The players are with him, I spoke to two or three of them and they confirmed that to me.

‘They just need to keep working and everything will go well. I hope for him that the club has patience to let him get on with the job.’

MORE : Antonio Conte ready to accept Napoli offer to replace Rudi Garcia

MORE : Daniel Levy admits ‘mistake’ with Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte at Tottenham

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Cole Palmer ‘surprised’ by how quickly he’s adapted to life at Chelsea after Manchester City exit Football

Cole Palmer ‘surprised’ by how quickly he’s adapted to life at Chelsea after Manchester City exit

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Cole Palmer joined Chelsea in a £42.5m deal (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Chelsea new boy Cole Palmer admits he’s been ‘surprised’ by how quickly he’s hit the ground running at Stamford Bridge.

The winger completed a £42.5m move to the Blues in September, after coming through City’s academy.

The Manchester-born playmaker has settled well in west London and he scored his first goal for the club in a 4-1 win against Burnley on Saturday.

Palmer is set to captain England’s U21s in a European Championships qualifier against Serbia on Thursday.

And the winger says though he always had faith in his ability, he’s surprised at just how quickly he’s settled in his new home.

Palmer is enjoying life in London (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)

‘It has surprised me a bit but I know my own ability,’ Palmer said. ‘And I knew that if I hit the ground running I’d have a chance and obviously make an impact. That’s why I went there

‘I thought I could break in. I looked at the squad and there are a lot of players who went, not as many as people would have thought in terms of attackers.

‘It’s been hectic but that’s good, moving down there was a big change. I was in a hotel for a couple of weeks and then I got my own place. It is new and difficult, I don’t know how to do most things on my own so I’m learning.’ 

MORE : Chelsea slammed by Portuguese football chief over ‘offensive’ plan to buy Sporting Lisbon

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