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Buffon warns Chelsea of strict Conte

Cape Town - Juventus and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has let the Chelsea players know that Antonio Conte, who is expected to be their next manager, likes to rule with an iron fist.

The Bianconeri goalkeeper played under Conte during their time together in Turin, and is still managed by him at international level for the Azzurri, making him well placed to warn the Blues squad that there will be little doubt about who’s in charge should Conte take over at Stamford Bridge.

"Conte is the boss of the dressing room," Buffon told The Mirror. "Conte has very clear ideas about behaviour, respect, being on time for training, no phones during certain times.

"He is a coach who believes in discipline and rules. There is a very strict code of conduct as to how players should behave on the field and off the field.

"He doesn't do it to show he is the boss, he just wants everybody as focused as he is. He is a man who commands respect, but players want to respect him, they see how hard he works.

"When he is speaking he has the total focus of all the players. There is silence when he speaks. It is not just that players don't dare interrupt him, it's that they know there will always be sense in what he is saying.

"I would back him to succeed at any club in any country. He is obsessed with football, he is obsessed with his job, failure is just not an option for him.

"No professional likes to lose, but he takes it personally, for him lack of success is never an option."

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