Antonio ConteGetty Images

Conte can make Chelsea attacking and seductive, says Leboeuf


GOALEXCLUSIVE

Frank Leboeuf believes that Antonio Conte has the ability to make Chelsea an attacking and entertaining team. 

Conte will join Chelsea after his Euro 2016 campaign with Italy ends and will immediately meet the press and embark on a pre-season tour of Austria and America. 

The Blues suffered a bad season last year and recorded the worst title defence in Premier League history - but with Conte's track record for Juventus and Italy - Leboeuf believes that things are looking up for his old side.

Article continues below

"Italian football has changed, when I was a player I didn’t want to go to Italy because it was boring as a defender," Leboeuf told Goal. "Conte is part of the new generation of coaches in Italy where it is more offensive and seductive football. 

"They needed a change and I like those coaches who are between their 40s and 50s who have a new idea of football, like Jose Mourinho, like Didier Deschamps, like Laurent Blanc - we need a new generation of coach to bring something new."

Italy weren't fancied as one of the tournament's favourites but have impressed by qualifying after two wins against Belgium and Sweden and are yet to concede a goal.

Lebouef, a European champion with France, believes Conte will succeed at Chelsea and is the right man to put in charge after a poor campaign under Jose Mourinho and latterly Guus Hiddink.

"I really think he can do well, he’s been successful, he was a fantastic player and he is a real leader," added Leboeuf. "I think it is a good idea, we will see.

"Last season was very appalling, I went to the Paris Saint-Germain game over the two ties and I never saw Chelsea, that was too easy for PSG. Chelsea now has to react." 

The Azzurri boss will be Chelsea's fifth Italian to take the reigns at the club after Gianluca Vialli, Claudio Ranieri, Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto Di Matteo. 

Lebouef was speaking to Goal courtesy of ESPN.

Goal journalists are powered by the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Gear 360

Advertisement