Conte: 'Why can't I celebrate?'

Antonio Conte can’t quite believe how much Juventus are “flying” towards the Scudetto and explained his celebrations at the Dall’Ara.

The Coach was criticised by Bologna boss Stefano Pioli for an “exaggerated” celebration before the final whistle of a 2-0 victory, as he was pumping his fist, calling the crowd and blowing kisses into the television cameras while play was still going.

“If I can’t even say anything to our fans and celebrate with them, then tell me what I can do?” said Conte.

“We annoy people when we win, I’m sorry, but I did not lack respect towards anyone. We see so many horrible things, people who throw rocks at team buses or swearing, so what’s the problem if I want to celebrate with my fans?

“I won, I am winning another Scudetto and that is meant to be a lack of respect? The kiss towards the camera was a spontaneous gesture aimed towards my daughter.”

This is effectively the first time that Conte has said Juve are practically Serie A winners for a second consecutive campaign.

“Juventus are flying at the moment, but the same thing happened last season. We are achieving important things and must continue. It was a great step forward, we still need to get past the finish line and there are nine games left.

“We deserve to be in this position and will continue while also thinking about the Champions League.”

The 2-0 victory at the Dall’Ara was a difficult test, as Bologna were fresh from three consecutive victories over the likes of Fiorentina and Inter.

“We wanted to win against a team that was in great shape. A defeat today would’ve sent a positive signal to our opponents in the race, but we earned the three points and I am happy with the performance.

“Juventus have statistically the strongest defence and most prolific attack. We play good football and I am proud of this team.”

Conte was also asked about rumours linking him with a future at Chelsea, PSG or even Real Madrid.

“Anything can happen. Right now this is a wonderful experience with Juventus. In future I would love to measure myself in a foreign League, but talking about that now is difficult.”

Antonio Conte was so dismayed by the controversy in Bologna that the Juventus Coach warned “it makes me want to leave Italy. This is sport, not war.”

The tactician has been repeatedly linked with prestigious jobs abroad, including Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.

Juve won 2-0 at the Dall’Ara last night and temporarily went 12 points clear at the top of the Serie A table, but Bologna manager Stefano Pioli berated him for an “exaggerated” celebration that showed “a lack of respect” towards the home team.

“I was celebrating with the Juventus fans,” insisted Conte in his Press conference. “I turned towards the Curva and the areas of the stands that I could see were full of Juventini. If I can’t even celebrate with my own supporters, then what can I do?

“With one minute to go, I am 2-0 up and putting a solid foundation on a Scudetto and am supposed to worry about how and where I celebrate? Are we kidding?

“Instead, try seeing how Juventus are welcomed in stadiums. I was truly stunned that a civilised city like Bologna greeted the team bus with sticks, rocks, spit, even people who shouted vile abuse while holding four-year-old children in their arms. What kind of an education are we giving young people?

“Seeing as there are so many cameras on the pitch and in the locker room, why not put some outside the stadium to show what happens when we arrive? Maybe that person with the child in their arms will see themselves, be ashamed and not go back to the stadium.

“This is the sort of thing people ought to be ashamed of, not rubbish like celebrating. I understand it hurts to lose, but let’s be realistic here.”

Following Conte’s appeal, the media also covered some of the chants and banners in the stands at the Dall’Ara, which included references to Heysel and the death of former President Agnelli.

“If this sort of thing happens in Bologna, which is such a lovely and civilised city, then it’s over. It is over, because I can sort of expect it in Naples with the great rivalry and the situation in the table, even if it felt like being in a war zone with tear gas...

“If I have to expect a welcome like this in Bologna, then I say that it really makes me want to leave Italy and go abroad. It must be a simpler life elsewhere.

“I cannot think of going with my family, my wife and my daughter to the stadium. We can’t go in Florence because it’s too risky, in Naples it’s too risky and now even Bologna is too risky...

“We are not at war, here. This is sport. This is a sport. In this situation, you may as well just leave. Right now my thoughts are exclusively on Juventus, but these things make you feel very bitter and disheartened. If it happens in Bologna, then we really do have to change everything. It’s easier to just go elsewhere.”

Conte also experienced the ugly side of Italian football when he was sitting out his four-month touchline ban, as he could not sit in the stands due to security concerns and had to watch games from the TV commentary boxes.

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Damn, it is making me sick, it really feels like he is thinking about leaving Juve in the near future.

I think he has at least another year in him. He will probably want to manage this team with a quality set of strikers. After that, I wouldn't be shocked if he left. I thought Conte would be the type of manager like SAF or Wenger who stick with their team for ages.

Juve needs to pay him like Wenger and SAF and see if that helps keep him around. The only reason I could see an established manager like Conte going to clubs like PSG, Chelsea, and Man City would be for money. Otherwise, jobs like Chelsea and Man City seem like high pressure situations where the manager gets fired for stupid things and the ownership has no patience. If Juve pays him well, which they can afford and Conte is worth it, I think he will have less incentive to leave.

After Conte I bet Nedved is taking over mark my words

DeviAngel wrote:After Conte I bet Nedved is taking over mark my words

I'm not convinced Conte is leaving. Hopefully, he takes some time to talk to other managers that have jumped from team to team and he will realize that it's not worth it. Things always appear better somewhere else. He needs to realize that this is as ideal of a situation as he is going to get. There aren't many teams that would have stuck with Conte after the match-fixing scandal.