Football
Liam Twomey, Chelsea correspondent 8y

New boss Antonio Conte looks to Leicester City for Chelsea inspiration

Antonio Conte says that Chelsea can use Leicester City for some inspiration as they look to rebound from the worst season of the Roman Abramovich era back to Premier League title contention.

Leicester claimed the first top flight title in their 132-year history in May by a margin of 10 points, stunning the football world only a year after finishing 14th in the table.

In his unveiling news conference at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, Conte described countryman Claudio Ranieri's achievement at the King Power Stadium as "extraordinary", and admitted that he will probably call the Leicester boss for advice on managing in England in the coming days.

Conte expects Chelsea to add to the £33 million signing of Michy Batshuayi from Marseille before the new season starts, but says that replicating Leicester's determination and collective spirit will provide the ideal foundation for the Blues to redeem their 10th place finish in the 2015-16 campaign.

"Now, some people can think that Chelsea are not favourites for the title and I think that they can be right after last season," Conte said.

"Also, you see that we have signed only Batshuayi. But we are ready.

"We are talking with the club and we know that this club -- the team -- needs to reinforce. I am sure that in the coming days we can reach our target to reinforce the team to go closer to the other teams that now seem to stay higher in the table compared to Chelsea.

"Leicester City must give us a great example. You can have the best talent, the best champion [players], but you must also have a good spirit in your team, a team with good organisation and good players. If you have all of those things, you can win. You can reach your target. I am sure about this.

"And in the coming days, we can buy one, two, three players. Players that can reinforce us for the season as it will be very, very tough.

"History says that in the [Roman] Abramovich era, Chelsea are always in the Champions League, and it is important to get back very soon, to fight for the title, to be there at the end of the season."

Conte also revealed that earlier this week he spoke to new Bayern Munich boss Carlo Ancelotti, his former manager at Juventus and the man sacked by Chelsea only a season after securing the club's first-ever Double in the 2009-10 season.

The pressure on Conte at Stamford Bridge will be every bit as intense, but the 46-year-old insists he approaches the challenge with no fear of failure.

"I'm not afraid of the club sacking me," he added. "It's not the most important thing for me now. The most important thing is to work and give an identity to my team, to bring my idea of football, my passion, my work, to transfer my passion to my players and to the fans.

"That's the most important thing to me, not to think, 'If I win I stay, if I don't win I don't stay'."

Chelsea kick off their Premier League campaign at home to West Ham United next month.

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