Italian manager Antonio Conte has suggested that Chelsea officials had doubts over signing N’Golo Kante in 2016.
Kante arrived at Chelsea in 2016 just months after lifting the Premier League title with Leicester City. The France international played an important role at Stamford Bridge, establishing himself as one of the best in his position in the world.
However, Kante who won the Champions League trophy at Chelsea might have not ended up in London.
While speaking in an interview with The Athletic, Conte claim that Chelsea officials continuously asked him whether he was sure on signing Kante during his first summer at the club.
Antonio Conte celebrates on the pitch with N’Golo Kante (L) during their time at Chelsea . (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP via Getty Images)
The Italian said: “That was a Premier League title we won as underdogs.
“We hadn’t made any big signings. We signed David Luiz, Alonso and Kante — the club asked me 10 times if I was sure about him.
”He wasn’t the typical Chelsea player: tall and handsome. He was the sort of bloke who, when you saw him, was just… well, when I first saw him, I had a few doubts myself about his physicality (laughs), but I was so convinced he was a top player.”
Antonio Conte shakes hand with N’Golo Kante during their time at Chelsea. (Photo by Chris Brunskill Ltd/Getty Images)
Chelsea have not won a Premier League title since that season, when they accumulated 93 points.
When asked on why it is so hard to win Premier League trophies, Conte added: “That’s why hard work is important. Winning isn’t easy; it takes fatica. Not just effort. But blood, sweat and tears.
”Some people think success just falls from the sky and lands in your lap. But you have to go out there and seize it. Sitting around and talking about it doesn’t make it happen.”
Conte has established himself as one of the best managers in the world. The Italian tactician has won seven league titles with five different clubs – Bari, Juventus, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Napoli – during his managerial career.
